Herbert V. Kohler Jr. wasn't just a guy who sold toilets. Honestly, if you think that, you’re missing the entire point of what made the man a legend. He was a billionaire, sure. He was the king of plumbing, definitely. But he was also a theater student, an amateur actor, and a guy who once drove an old Jaguar XJ6 so hard across a construction site that it had holes in the floorboards.
He didn't just run a company. He built a kingdom in the middle of the Wisconsin countryside.
When Herbert V. Kohler Jr. took over the family business in 1972, he was only 33 years old. Most people that age are just trying to figure out how to manage a small team. Herb? He was handed the keys to a manufacturing giant founded by his grandfather back in 1873. He didn't just maintain the status quo. He blew it up.
The Bold Look of a Maverick
Before Herb came along, bathrooms were utilitarian. They were white. They were boring. They were places you spent as little time in as possible. Herb changed that with a slogan that sounds like a vintage postcard now: "The Bold Look of Kohler."
He decided that a faucet wasn't just a pipe sticking out of a wall. It was art. He brought in colors—avocado, harvest gold, sunrise. It sounds dated today, but in the late '60s and '70s, it was a revolution. He turned the bathroom into a "statement room."
You've probably used a Kohler product today without thinking about it. That’s his real legacy. He held over 200 design and utility patents. The man was obsessed. He used to personally test whirlpool baths and sample pieces of Kohler chocolate (yes, they make chocolate too) just to make sure the "delight" was there. If it didn't make him smile, it didn't get the Kohler nameplate.
Why Wisconsin Became a Golf Mecca
If you told someone in 1980 that a small town in Wisconsin would host the Ryder Cup, they would’ve laughed at you. Wisconsin was for cheese and Packers fans. It wasn't for world-class, seaside-style links golf.
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Herbert V. Kohler Jr. didn't care about what people thought was "reasonable."
He partnered with Pete Dye, a legendary (and somewhat sadistic) course architect. Together, they built Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits. To build Whistling Straits, they had to clean up 43 waste dumps. They moved thousands of tons of earth to make the Wisconsin shoreline look like the coast of Ireland.
Herb even insisted on importing a flock of Scottish Blackface sheep to roam the grounds. Why? Because it felt authentic. It added to the "art" of the game. Today, Whistling Straits is arguably one of the most famous courses on the planet.
The "Richer Plumber" Who Rebelled
Herb wasn't always the "perfect" corporate heir. He actually rebelled against his father initially. He went to Knox College in Illinois to study theater. He loved the stage. He even spent time in Switzerland studying math and physics.
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This creative streak is what set him apart. He didn't look at a balance sheet and see just numbers. He saw a performance.
- 1939: Born in Chicago.
- 1965: Graduates from Yale with a degree in Industrial Administration.
- 1972: Becomes CEO at age 33 after his father's sudden death.
- 1981: Opens The American Club as a luxury resort.
- 2021: Hosts the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.
- 2022: Passes away at age 83.
He stayed at the helm for 43 years as CEO. By the time he stepped down to become Executive Chairman in 2015, he had grown the company from a $300 million regional manufacturer into a $7 billion global juggernaut.
Sustainability Before It Was Cool
A lot of companies talk about "going green" now because it's good PR. Herb was doing it in the '70s. He set a "NetZero 2035" goal for the company long before most people knew what a carbon footprint was.
He created the Kohler WasteLab. Basically, they take the factory's leftover scrap—vitreous china, cast iron dust—and turn it into high-end tiles and home products. It’s literal trash-to-treasure. He also donated $20 million to build the Kohler Environmental Center at his alma mater, Choate Rosemary Hall.
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The man was a mass of contradictions. He was an "imperious" billionaire who could make any chair feel like a throne, yet he was known for being genuinely warm and sincere. He was a hard-nosed businessman who believed that "life without art is brutality."
What We Can Learn From Herb
Most people think success is about following a map. Herb Kohler Jr. proves it’s actually about ignoring the map and building your own road.
He didn't just build products; he built experiences. Whether it was a five-star hotel at the Old Course in St. Andrews or a generator that keeps a hospital running, the goal was always the same: "Gracious Living."
Honestly, the world needs more people who aren't afraid to be a little "bold."
Actionable Insights from the Kohler Legacy:
If you want to apply the "Herb Kohler" method to your own life or business, start here:
- Stop being boring. If everyone in your industry is doing "white and utilitarian," find your version of "harvest gold."
- Focus on the "Delight." Don't just check the boxes. Ask yourself if the final result actually makes someone smile five years later.
- Invest in your backyard. Herb didn't move his company to New York or London. He stayed in Kohler, Wisconsin, and made the world come to him.
- Take the "Stage." Use your creative background. Whether it's theater, art, or a weird hobby, bring that unique perspective into your professional work.
Herbert V. Kohler Jr. left behind a massive family—three children and ten grandchildren—but he also left behind a blueprint for how to live a large, loud, and incredibly impactful life. He died in September 2022, but every time someone tees off at Whistling Straits or turns on a polished chrome faucet, his "bold look" is still there.
Next Steps for You:
To truly understand the scale of his impact, look into the Kohler Arts/Industry residency. It’s a program where real artists live and work inside the Kohler factories, creating sculpture out of the same materials used for toilets and sinks. It’s the perfect example of his "labor meets art" philosophy. Or, if you're a golfer, start planning a trip to Sheboygan County—just be prepared to lose a few balls in the dunes.