MILWAUKEE — A life lived for the benefit of Milwaukee, businessman, previous Bucks owner and former Sen. Herb Kohl has passed away at the age of 88.

Collaborator, agent of change, philanthropist—those are just a few of the words you could use to describe Kohl.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Kohl was the son of immigrants and became one of Wisconsin's most prominent leaders in both the business world and public sector.

Alongside his brother and father, Kohl helped build his family-owned business, Kohl's grocery and department stores. In 1970, he became president of the retail chain before stepping down in 1979 when the company was sold.

Senate Judiciary Committee member, then Sen. Joesph Biden, D-Del., left, questions Chief Justice nominee John Roberts, as fellow committee member Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., listens, during Roberts' confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

A decade later, Kohl was elected in 1989 to his first six-year term in the U.S. Senate.

“Nobody's Senator But Yours” was the mantra he governed by—a nod to his independence from special interests and focus on the individual.

Kohl would be reelected three more times before retiring in 2013 when he was succeeded in office by Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

Wisconsin Democratic Senate candidate, Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. hugs retiring Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl before President Barack Obama's campaign stop in Green Bay, Wis., Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. Former Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold applauds behind Baldwin. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn)

Though he leaves behind a political legacy, Kohl will perhaps be remembered more for his philanthropy.

In 1990, he started the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation to recognize students, teachers, and schools with grants.

But his love for giving back also paralleled his ultimate passion—basketball.

Milwaukee Bucks owner Sen. Herb Kohl speaks at a news conference Wednesday, March 19, 2008, in Milwaukee. Kohl announced that Larry Harris will not be offered a new contract as general manager with the Milwaukee Bucks and has left the team. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Kohl helped bring the National Basketball Association (NBA) to Milwaukee in 1968, which put the city on the professional sports map as one of only 30 NBA franchises at the time.

Kohl eventually bought the Milwaukee Bucks in 1985 for $18 million, which was a move that would cement the team’s place in Cream City.

However, Kohl's lasting mark on Wisconsin basketball didn't end there. In 1995, he donated $25 million to UW-Madison to build a new sports arena called the Kohl Center.

Former Senator and Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl takes part in a parade for the NBA Champion basketball team Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

In 2014, after nearly 30 years of ownership, Kohl sold the Bucks for $550 million, but there was a catch—the team had to remain in Milwaukee. 

To help make that a reality, Kohl put $100 million towards a new arena, now known as Fiserv Forum. 

It was the largest single gift in Wisconsin at the time, and a long-standing reminder of one man's lifelong commitment to the city and state he called home.

And that dedication to keeping the team in Milwaukee was rewarded when his beloved Bucks won the 2021 NBA Championship.