SHEBOYGAN – The golf world and Wisconsin organizations paid their tributes to Herbert V. Kohler Jr., a enterprise icon who introduced world championship golf to Sheboygan County.
Kohler, 83, died Saturday. He was the CEO of Kohler Firm for 43 years earlier than his son, David Kohler, took over in 2015. He continued to work within the firm, which focuses on manufacturing plumbing fixtures, as its government chairman. Kohler additionally based the Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run golf programs in Wisconsin. Kohler is credited by many for placing Wisconsin on the map as a golf vacation spot.
Tributes to Kohler got here pouring in after his demise. Golfers, journalists and organizations took to Twitter to share their condolences and their very own recollections of Kohler.
In September 2021, Kohler achieved his purpose of bringing the Ryder Cup to Whistling Straits. The Ryder Cup shared a tribute video on Twitter in honor of Kohler.
The PGA Tour shared a statement about Kohler Sunday.
“Herb Kohler was a larger-than-life determine whose enthusiasm and love of golf helped convey important males’s and ladies’s skilled occasions to the state of Wisconsin during the last 25 years whereas reworking his house state right into a golf vacation spot,” the assertion stated. “A First Tee trustee, Herb was an amazing pal of the PGA Tour, and his common presence over time on the AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am gave us all a first-hand have a look at his ardour for the sport. Our ideas and prayers are with the Kohler household.”
Skilled golfers from around the globe additionally shared their condolences on Twitter.
Steve Stricker, knowledgeable golfer from southern Wisconsin, stated in a tweet that he was saddened to listen to concerning the passing of Kohler, who he stated had performed a lot for golf in Wisconsin. Stricker was captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup workforce that received the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.
Jerry Kelly, knowledgeable golfer from Madison, known as Kohler “the legend” in a tweet despatched Sunday. “We’ll miss you! Thanks for what you probably did for my profession and for Wisconsin golf,” he wrote.
Thomas Bjørn, knowledgeable golfer from Denmark, shared a tweet from Ryder Cup Europe remembering Kohler.
“An excellent supporter of golf everywhere in the world,” Bjørn wrote. “Ideas are with The Kohler household and everybody in Kohler Wisconsin. RIP Herb.”
Pádraig Harrington, an Irish skilled golfer, shared a tribute to Kohler on Sunday.
Paul McGinley, one other Irish skilled golfer, said he was unhappy to listen to of the passing of Kohler. “A really good man who I had the pleasure of partnership every now and then on the Dunhill in St. Andrews,” McGinley stated.
Kohler owned and operated The Previous Course Resort, Golf Resort & Spa in St. Andrews, Scotland. The lodge stands alongside the seventeenth fairway of The Previous Course, overlooking the North Sea.
Mark Rolfing, an NBC Golf Channel analyst, shared his personal tribute to Kohler.
Wisconsin organizations additionally despatched out condolences in honor of Kohler.
Representatives for Marquette College in Milwaukee shared sentiments on the college’s Twitter account.
“The Marquette neighborhood mourns the lack of Herbert Kohler Jr., chairman of Kohler Co., which has been a strategic associate to Marquette College for over a century. We lengthen our prayers and condolences to Herb’s household and buddies as they rejoice his life.”
SentryWorld in Stevens Level, which would be the house of the 2023 U.S. Senior Open, shared condolences Sunday.
AAA Wisconsin despatched a tweet in honor of Kohler as nicely, writing that they be part of all these mourning his demise.
Contact USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reporter Melissa Siegler at [email protected]. Observe her on Twitter at @Marie2Melissa.
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