'Herb Kohl Way' sign briefly replaced with 'Donald J. Trump Way' ahead of RNC in Milwaukee
Milwaukee — Workers setting up for next week's Republican National Convention covered a street sign for "Herb Kohl Way" outside Fiserv Forum on Friday with a new one that read "Donald J. Trump Way."
But the Trump covers were quickly removed from the signs, which are meant to celebrate the legacy of Kohl — a longtime Democratic U.S. senator, business magnate and philanthropist who is widely credited with keeping the Milwaukee Bucks in his hometown.
Kohl, 88, who served four terms in the U.S. Senate, died Dec. 27 after a brief illness. He was honored with a public memorial service in January at Fiserv Forum, the site where Trump is set to officially accept the nomination to run for a second term in the White House on Thursday.
At his memorial service, Kohl was remembered for his devotion to Milwaukee. Childhood friend Allan H. (Bud) Selig, who owned the Brewers and became baseball commissioner, said Kohl "sacrificed willingly" to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee. Kohl owned the Bucks from 1985 to 2014 and played a key role in the creation of Fiserv Forum through a $100 million contribution to the project.
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'Herb Kohl Way' sign briefly covered with 'Donald J. Trump Way' sign at Fiserv Forum
At 6:20 p.m., CBS58 reporter A.J. Bayatpour posted a photo on the social media site X of a sign that had been covered.
By 7 p.m., the Trump sign had been removed and a Journal Sentinel reporter saw a worker on a lift pulling “RNC2024” signage from the four sides of the sign poll.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson posted on X Friday night that he reached out to RNC officials as soon as he learned about the sign.
"Herb Kohl was one of Milwaukee's favorite sons and if it weren't for his legacy, there wouldn't be an RNC, DNC, professional basketball, or any number of large acts in Wisconsin," he wrote, adding: "Convention organizers understood the importance of Senator Kohl to our community and the covering signage has been removed. I just left the Deer District after verifying myself," he wrote with a photo of the restored sign.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley posted on X, "This is a slap in the face to every Wisconsinite. If you can't respect what Herb Kohl has done for Wisconsin you don't deserve any Wisconsin vote. Period! This is the (Herb Kohl) Way. The disrespect"
Republican National Convention spokespeople and a Milwaukee Bucks spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday evening.
Herb Kohl Way meant to honor Kohl's legacy
"Herb Kohl Way was named after one of the greatest Milwaukeeans, not because of his politics but because of all he did for this great city," said Alex Lasry, a former Bucks owner. "There would be no Fiserv Forum without Sen. Kohl and regardless of politics we should be honoring his legacy."
At Kohl's memorial service, his longtime aide and friend JoAnne Anton, the president and CEO of Herb Kohl Philanthropies, urged people to continue his legacy with their actions.
"I hope we will all be able to keep Herb alive in our hearts and carry his legacy forward forever," Anton said. "Let's all lead lives of humility, generosity and love. Just as Herb did. The Herb Kohl way."
Mary Spicuzza and Alison Dirr can be reached at mary.spicuzza@jrn.com and adirr@jrn.com.