The BOLD LIFE of Herbert V. Kohler

by Bekah Wright

Choate lost a force to be reckoned with on September 3, 2022, with the death of alumnus Herbert V. Kohler Jr. ’57. Kohler’s presence is very much still part of Choate. As his son David Kohler ’84, says, “He moved the things he touched.” Among them: Choate Rosemary Hall.

A self-proclaimed teenage “scofflaw,” Herb saw his course changed by what would become a lifelong passion. He delighted in relaying the tale of how he arrived at The Choate School. “Herb was a great raconteur and loved to tell a story,” says Alex D. Curtis, Head of School. “They were always funny, full of life, and inspiring at the same time.”

Born in Sheboygan, Wis., on February 20, 1939, Herb was sent to Phillips Exeter Academy at 14 after the death of his mother. “He got kicked out of Exeter for being caught calling his girlfriend from the basement phone too many times,” David says.

A follow-up to the tale comes from his granddaughter Tait Kohler ’21. “According to Papa, a family driver picked him up from Exeter and drove him directly to Choate,” she recounts. “Hat in hand, he walked up to the admissions office, handed them his application, then sweet-talked his way in.”

Unlike Exeter, Choate stuck. “Beyond an important educational experience, a lot of growth happened for Herb at Choate, for which he was grateful,” Dr. Curtis says. Some of that growth came via the unexpected.

Herb Kohler '57

As a student, Herb lived in Hill House. “Dad’s residential adviser was also his wrestling coach,” David says. “Every morning, his RA would approach him in a wrestling stance, lock up with him, and throw him around, saying, ‘For the son of a bathtub baron, you certainly do smell like hell.’”

Herb graduated from Yale in ’65 with a degree in business administration. His father coaxed him into joining the family’s 1873-founded plumbing business, Kohler, Co. The deal the two struck: Herb would work there only if it was on his own terms. With his own vision leading the way, Herb spent 57 years innovating Kohler, much of that time as president and CEO. In 2015, he stepped into the role of executive chairman, passing the president and CEO torch to David.

Herb’s vision for the company stretched beyond plumbing and into the hospitality and golfing worlds. A golfing dream of Herb’s came to fruition in 2021 when the Whistling Straits golf course he built hosted the Ryder Cup.

Despite running an international empire, Herb always made time for family and Choate.

Family Ties

Following in Herb’s footsteps at Choate was David ’84, along with granddaughters Rachel Proudman ’19 and Tait Kohler ’21. Having three generations of Kohlers attend Choate brought joy to Herb. Dear to the Kohler family were graduation ceremonies followed by celebratory meals at The Library, where Herb had a favorite table and a penchant for the menu’s raw seafood. “These were some of our most precious times together,” Tait says.

Rachel’s graduation took place in 2019. “My classmates were chattering, ‘Who’s that old man onstage?’” The common consensus — he was falling asleep. “He wasn’t,” Rachel says. “Whenever he was in deep thought and listening intently, he’d lower his head and look at the ground.”

Then, Dr. Curtis called Rachel’s name. “As I was receiving my diploma, Grandpa, who was wearing a full gown in the heat, walked over, gave me a hug, kiss on the cheek, and whispered, ‘I’m so proud of you.’” In the photos taken during that moment, Rachel says, “You can feel the tie we both had to Choate. The school forever changed my life and was one of the most impactful things in his life, as well.”

Tait vividly recalls that day. “I remember crying from the audience,” she says. Two years later, her 2021 graduation became known for a terrible storm that soaked the crowd at the outdoor event. Despite the downpour, a proud Herb beamed from the front row. “He was declining in health,” Tait says. “Yet, he flew from Wisconsin and sat through the entire ceremony just to see me walk across the stage for five minutes.”

"You can feel the tie we both had to Choate. The school forever changed my life and was one of the most impactful things in his life, as well.” - Rachel Proudman '19

Herb and David began working together at Kohler in 1996. “We shared more — family, our Choate bond, Kohler careers, hunting, golfing, fishing — than we did with any other person on the planet. Even though we were different people, because of our common experiences, we understood each other at a deep level.” This resulted in a powerful dynamic. David says, “We pushed and challenged one another, all while creating.”

Rachel spent a summer at Kohler as an intern. As did her grandfather, she chose a factory position. “Working at the factory allowed for seeing the company fully, from the most basic level,” she says. “For me, that meant physically manufacturing something that would eventually be sold to consumers.”

Working alongside Herb brought with it many life lessons. David says, “He was a great role model; very distinguished, yet humble, disciplined while being charismatic, bold, ambitious, creative, a builder.”

Kohler Environmental Center

One of Herb’s building projects encountered a roadblock. When looking to build a golf course at Choate, research determined the project wasn’t feasible. “He could have taken his ball and gone home, but he pivoted,” Marshall Ruben P ’07, ’08, ’10, a friend of Herb’s and fellow Choate Board of Trustees member, says. A new idea emerged: the Kohler Environmental Center (KEC).

Dr. Curtis was impressed by Herb’s approach and attention to detail with the KEC project. “He didn’t try and keep the school the same as it always was; instead, he encouraged Choate to dream big, not set boundaries, and lead through excellence.” Such determination saw the KEC developing its yearlong Environmental Immersion Program combining education and research. The building itself earned Platinum LEED-certified status. Additionally, Dr. Curtis says, “We’re seeing former KEC students emerging as leaders in environmentalism, but also bringing a sustainable lens to other professions.”

KEC Dedication Ribbon Ceremony, 2012

Herb’s grandkids remember the KEC being built and its 2012 unveiling. Later, they’d have their own firsthand experiences at the center. When Tait attended Choate, she checked out the completed project. Skipping the campus shuttle, she trekked over. “The walk reminded me of my grandfather,” she says. “The KEC is in the middle of the woods; even in the dining space, glass walls let you see the beautiful nature outside.”

Rachel would join Herb at the KEC when he was visiting. “Whenever Grandpa came to Choate, he’d stay in the KEC’s guestroom,” Rachel says. “He’d invite me to brunch with the kids who lived there. Seeing him engaging with students about their passions in that environment was beautiful.”

Struck by this, too, was Dr. Curtis. “Herb truly listened and took a personal interest in each person. I was amazed that beyond running an international company, he was involved in so many different things, including Choate.”

CHOATE’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Herb joined Choate Rosemary Hall’s Board of Trustees in 1994, serving as its chairman from 2005 to 2011. Collaborating with Herb brought with it myriad projects. Hank Snyder ’85, who served alongside Herb, says, “The Board was functioning at its highest during Herb’s tenure as chairman.”

Ruben concurs. “I was amazed by his commitment. He never missed a board meeting; more importantly, he was a hundred percent present. He focused his attention on the matter at hand in an extraordinary way.”

Choate Rosemary Hall Board of Trustees, 2005

The board’s goals were a group effort. “Herb’s management style was extremely effective,” Ruben says. “He delegated and let people do their thing. At the end of the day, we wouldn’t let him down.” Snyder echoes this. “We were able to get so much done because of a mutual directness of purpose, trust, and respect for one another.”

Herb’s drive was infectious. “His focus on the school, excellence, and innovation weren’t just words for him,” Ruben says. “It was substance.” Snyder agrees. “We flew our own path and became the lodestar other schools compared themselves to,” he says. “It was a magical time. You can look around the campus today and see the results.”

Serving As Inspiration

Beyond the students at KEC, Herb inspired many. Among them, his granddaughters. “He believed the highest standard of Choate came through its challenges and what its different environments hold,” Tait says. “Like Papa, I have a sense of passion and performance. Mine grew through Choate’s art program.” With that in mind, “I wanted to find a place on campus where I was my truest self, outside of academics.” Embodying that for Tait in several ways was Colony Hall. “There’s a tree right outside of Colony dedicated to my grandfather that I walked past every day on my way to art classes.”

Lending support to his granddaughters’ goals saw Herb showing up at various Choate events. “I was on the varsity tennis team, and he made an active effort to fly out for all the matches,” Rachel says. Nerves were always at an all-time high for Rachel during those matches. Then, she’d catch sight of her grandfather standing next to the court. “He always had this twinkle in his eye. I’d see that twinkle, and my nerves disappeared.”

Herb Kohler with Mazie St. John at the dedication of St. John Student Center, 2017

Support also came through what Rachel terms a “tough love mentality.” “Knowing you could accomplish anything, he pushed you to your limits and asked hard questions,” she says. “The challenge led me to articulate what was important to me and made me reach for the highest goals.”

Dr. Curtis also experienced this firsthand. “You had to be well-prepared for a conversation with Herb because he knew the right questions to ask and wasn’t shy about asking them,” he says. “I always felt we came out better as a result of that.”

2007 Campaign Launch: An Opportunity to Lead

The Legacy Lives On

“Grandpa had a wild spirit with no limits,” Rachel says. Herb’s loved ones are determined to carry this spirit forward, building on the foundation he laid. David declares, “We want to continue to evolve and preserve his passions, from the Kohler Co. to Choate, ensuring they’re vibrant and creative, while positively impacting the community, people, and world we touch.” Of his father, David says:

Very few true characters like that have walked the face of the earth as he did in his own unique, independent way.”