Herb Kohl (2024) | UW Athletic Hall of Fame

UW Athletic Hall of Fame

Received his bachelor’s degree in American Institutions from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1956
Served as CEO and President of Kohl’s, the family’s chain of department and grocery stores
Helped bring an NBA franchise to Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bought the Milwaukee Bucks in 1985 and stewarded the team as a community asset for 30 years
Ran successfully to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate in 1988 and was widely popular, winning reelection three times in his home state
Created the Herb Kohl Education Foundation in 1990, which has provided nearly $38 million in grants and scholarships to Wisconsin students, educators, and schools
Donated a $25 million gift, the largest ever given to UW-Madison at the time, for the construction of the Kohl Center
Contributed $100 million for a new arena when the Milwaukee Bucks were put up for sale in 2014, to ensure the team remained Milwaukee’s franchise
Gave $1.5 million to the La Follette School to create the Herb Kohl public service research competition, which supports nonpartisan research that informs critical public policy and governance debates and advances evidence-based decision-making
Funded UW-Madison’s Kohl Initiative through a $10 million gift, the largest in La Follette School history, which demonstrated his commitment to public service and policy-making
Donated $6 million for the Kohl Center expansion