Former senator and Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl dies at 88

Kohl won his election to the U.S. Senate in 1988 and retired in 2012.

Published: December 27, 2023 7:42pm

Former U.S. Senator and Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl passed away at age 88, his foundation announced on Wednesday.

He passed away from a brief illness, according to The Hill.

“Throughout his life, Herb Kohl always put people first — from his employees and their families to his customers and countless charitable organizations and efforts,” JoAnne Anton, director of giving for Herb Kohl Philanthropies, said, according to the outlet.

“Herb Kohl Way isn’t just the name of a street in front of the Fiserv Forum," she added. "The Herb Kohl Way perfectly sums up a legacy of humility, commitment, compromise, and kindness to countless people he worked with, served and helped along the way. Those values will live on through his Foundation.”

Kohl won his election to the U.S. Senate in 1988 and retired in 2012.

He purchased the Milwaukee Bucks in 1985. He and his brothers also built a chain of over 50 Kohl’s grocery stores across the Midwest.