Memories of Herb Kohl: Humility, humor, generosity over storied career

Herb Kohl was remembered Wednesday evening as a true Wisconsinite who remained down-to-earth even as he rose to the highest echelons in sports, politics and business.

But former Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan "Bud" Selig remembered Kohl as more than a leader.

For more than 80 years, he called him his friend. They still had lunch together every Thursday when they were both in town.

"I think of a lot of things, a lot of memories," Selig said. "It's unusual to have a friendship that long, that close."

Kohl died Wednesday at 88 years old after a short illness, prompting an outpouring of tributes for the former U.S. senator, Milwaukee Bucks owner and retail shopping magnate.

With Kohl and Selig, it was always personal.

They were two kids from the same Milwaukee neighborhood, who attended schools together and rose to own sports teams in their hometown.

Kohl's Bucks and Selig's Brewers.

On Wednesday night, Selig was rolling back through the years. He remembered playing in the park with Kohl as an 11-year-old, a bat and tennis ball game they called strikeout. And suddenly, their mothers appeared and Selig thought they were in some trouble.

It turned out the moms wanted to tell their kids that Franklin D. Roosevelt had just died.

They knew each other like brothers. When Kohl plunged into politics, there were a lot of people who were surprised.

Not Selig.

"When he first called to tell me he was going to run it was a great thing," Selig said. "When he was young, you could tell he had that on his mind already."

But it was his heart that belonged to Milwaukee.

Selig saluted Kohl for keeping the Bucks in the city.

"He could have moved them, made a lot of money but had no interest in that at all," Selig said. "When he knew he wanted to sell them, he knew he had to keep them here."

"Milwaukee and Wisconsin were really lucky to have a guy like that," he added.

Chuck Pruitt, who knew Kohl for nearly 40 years, reflected that each stage of his life built on the last.

A wonderful education prepared him well to get involved in the family business of the Kohl's grocery stores, which allowed him to play a critical role in keeping the Milwaukee Bucks in Milwaukee. He then sold the team and helped fund the new arena, Pruitt said.

Those experiences were all part of his election to the U.S. Senate, which he then followed with philanthropic work after his retirement, he said.

"His ability to never look back and always look forward and always build on the things that he had done with the hope of doing something important and making a real contribution going forward were really key hallmarks of his life," Pruitt said.

Reaction streamed in from Democrats and Republicans alike:

Longtime friend Ric Cobb

“He was just the most generous person in the world,” said Kohl’s longtime friend, Ric Cobb.

They first met in the late 1960’s when Kohl accompanied Marquette coach Al McGuire on a recruiting trip to New York. Cobb, a center, was a top prize. Cobb’s uncle kept telling the men that his nephew needed to eat more fruit. So, once Cobb got to Milwaukee, he said Kohl sent him a basket of fresh fruit monthly.

For decades, Cobb sat beside Kohl at Bucks games. The owner tried to remain stoic and undemonstrative. But he was clearly into the games.

“Every time a good or bad thing would happen, he would be pounding on my legs,” Cobb said.

Reaction streamed in from associates and Democrats and Republicans alike:

Gov. Tony Evers

“A Milwaukeean and Wisconsinite through and through, U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl dedicated his life to serving our kids, our communities, our state, and our country.

“Sen. Kohl was, without a doubt, nobody’s senator but ours. Kathy and I are devastated by the news of his passing.

“Sen. Kohl was deeply committed to community, kindness, and service to others. Wisconsin’s seniors, students, teachers, and schools, and farmers and rural areas, among so many others, are better off because of his life and legacy, the impacts of which will last for generations.

“Kathy and I join the people of Wisconsin, friends and colleagues of Sen. Kohl, and the many people whose lives he impacted—both near and far—in offering our sincerest condolences to the Kohl family and the Herb Kohl Foundation in mourning the loss of this Wisconsin giant.”

Democratic political strategist David Axelrod

A friend of nearly four decades, political strategist David Axelrod recalled meeting Kohl in the mid-1980s when Kohl was considering a run for U.S. Senate and Axelrod was just starting out in political consulting.

“He struck me as a very unlikely politician,” Axelrod recalled. “You know, he didn't look like a politician. He didn't sound like a politician.”

"Even so, Kohl turned out to be a pretty fair politician just because of the earnestness and incisiveness with which he did his job," Axelrod said.

Kohl turned into one of the great friends of Axelrod’s life — even though their start included Axelrod running a campaign against Kohl. And Kohl never let Axelrod forget that he was the only friend who had ever run a negative ad against the former senator.

Wherever he was — whether at Kohl’s, the Bucks or in his Senate office — Kohl built a close-knit community, Axelrod said.

“I loved Herb Kohl and, you know, I hope that he felt the same about me,” he said. “But there wasn’t a time that we got together that we didn’t laugh and talk about sports and politics, our twin passions, and life and people, where I didn’t leave thinking that was about the best two hours I’ve spent in a really long time.”

Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin

Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin on Wednesday evening called Kohl a great Wisconsinite, Milwaukeean and a man with a generous spirit.

Feigin estimated he had met Kohl for coffee or lunch every couple months for the past 10 years. What stuck with Feigin was not just Kohl's depth of knowledge about basketball but also his sense of humor.

"From the first moment to the last moment, he was always sincere, honest and genuine and he was a real pleasure to do business with," Feigin said.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver

“Senator Kohl was a dear friend and one of our very best public servants. In addition to his decades of devoted service in the U.S. Senate, he set the standard for NBA team ownership as the governor of his hometown Milwaukee Bucks for nearly 30 years.

"Through his purchase of the team, Senator Kohl ensured that the Bucks would stay in Milwaukee and remain an important pillar of the community. There was never any doubt about his extraordinary commitment to the franchise and city that he loved, and his vision and unparalleled financial contribution towards a new arena in Milwaukee will forever be remembered."

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson recalled being invited to Bucks games along with a YMCA mentor when Kohl owned the team and Johnson was a teenager involved in the YMCA program.

He described Kohl as a person who was inquisitive and engaging, with a notable sense of humility.

"For a man who certainly could have afforded the greatest luxury, it was not unusual to find him at a table in a downtown cafe," Johnson said. "He didn't put on any pretense of importance or snobbery, he was always just himself. He was always just Herb."

"And we will remember Herb as a towering, towering figure in our modern history in Milwaukee and across the entire state of Wisconsin," Johnson said.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley

Crowley called Kohl a "true champion for Milwaukee County."

"Herb Kohl served the State of Wisconsin with honor in the United States Senate," Crowley said in a statement. "He invested in educational initiatives to help Milwaukee’s young people succeed. He delivered prosperity and economic stability for so many workers and families.

"Herb loved our Milwaukee Bucks and made great strides to keep the team here for my kids and so many Milwaukee children to enjoy for years to come. After all, it’s only fitting that the Deer District is located along Herb Kohl Way. The list goes on, but I am simply grateful for Herb Kohl’s countless contributions in our community."

Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairman Ben Wikler on X called Kohl a "pillar of the U.S. Senate, generous philanthropist, business leader, and former chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin."

"We mourn the passing of a Wisconsin giant with a heart of gold. Every Wisconsinite knew: He was nobody's senator but ours," Wikler posted, a play on Kohl's memorable campaign slogan "Nobody's Senator but Yours."

Republican Party Chair Brian Schimming

Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming recalled on the social media platform a meeting in Kohl's office about federal tax credits.

"He was late coming in, I say '“'Apologies Senator, we’re here on money issues today.'”' Herb turns to me & says dryly, 'Brian, when you own a pro basketball team, every meeting is about money.'”' We all roared laughing," Schimming wrote.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Baldwin called Kohl her role model and a "true public servant."

"It didn’t matter how powerful the opposing forces were or how long the fight was, Herb was willing to take on any challenge if it meant a brighter future for Wisconsin," Baldwin said in a statement. "Herb was as generous as they come – with his resources, his knowledge, his time, and his heart. Wisconsin is lucky to have had Herb Kohl in our corner and we are undoubtedly a better, more just place because of his service. He truly was nobody’s senator but ours. My heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and the entire Badger State as we mourn the loss of a Wisconsin giant.”

Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer

"Herb Kohl was that amazing combination of thoughtful, kind, effective, down-to-Earth, and incisive. He was a great friend of mine from the day I entered the Senate. My thoughts are with Herb’s family and loved ones."

Rick Esenberg, president of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty

"I'll say this about Herb Kohl, while he made a lot of money on selling the Bucks, he left a lot on the table to structure a deal that made it almost impossible for them to leave. So next time you cheer Giannis, pour out a little for Herb. RIP," Esenberg wrote on X.

U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald

"My condolences are with the Kohl family. I’ll always fondly remember Herb as a kind man, and I cherish his loyalty to our great state — as evidenced by his efforts to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee. May he rest in peace," he wrote on X.

State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly

Underly called Kohl a "champion for public education and school kids."

"He supported our Teachers of the Year program, and multiple times funded entire slates of teachers’ back-to-school wish lists," she said in a statement. "Sen. Kohl supported healthy kids, as one of our nation's top advocates for kids getting breakfast and lunch at school. Through fellowships, internships, scholarships, and awards, he funded and supported countless peoples’ education. And at every event I ever attended with him, he took time to meet every kid and parent, and to thank every teacher and principal."

"As a graduate of Milwaukee Public Schools and UW-Madison, and as a champion for our democracy, today we've lost one of the very best – a true mensch. I wish my best to his entire family, and I thank them for sharing him with all of us."

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Herb Kohl remembered for humility, humor, generosity