1939
- Born February 20th in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
1954
- Took his first job with Kohler Co. as one of a handful of students hired to work on company-owned farms during the summer.
1957
- Earned his high school diploma from Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, Connecticut.
1965
- Graduated from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Administration.
- Rejoined Kohler Co. as Research & Development Technician.
1967
- Elected to Kohler Co. Board of Directors.
1970
- Made bold investments in cast iron product with the installation of Herman Molding Machine.
1972
- Elected Kohler Co. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.
1974
- Named President of Kohler Co. at age 35.
- With sister Ruth, created Arts/Industry, an artist-in-residence program bringing artists into Kohler Co. factories to work alongside production associates.
1975
- Guided Kohler Co. leadership to develop strategic corporate model and mission statement: “To contribute to a higher level of gracious living for those who are touched by our products and services. Gracious living is marked by qualities of charm, good taste and generosity of spirit.”
1977
- Managed the development and passage of second 50-year master plan for growth of the Village of Kohler.
- Led Kohler Co. to introduce the world’s first environmental enclosure – the Environment – which allowed user to simulate sun, warm breezes or gentle rain with the touch of a button.
1978
- Established Kohler Co. Hospitality & Real Estate Group.
- Put conservation to work by establishing River Wildlife, 500-acre private wilderness preserve in Sheboygan County.
1979
- Launched and dedicated the Sports Core—a recreational sports and fitness facility in the Village of Kohler, the first step in Kohler Hospitality’s commitment to wellness.
1981
- Reimagined and completely renovated The American Club, a dormitory originally built to provide a gracious experience for the company’s early immigrant workforce, into a luxury resort hotel.
1984
- Orchestrated Kohler Co.’s purchase of Sterling Faucet Co. of Schaumburg, Illinois, the first acquisition in the company’s 111-year history.
1985
- Opened Kohler Design Center, 36,000-square-foot showcase of KOHLER products and dramatic design ideas for the kitchen and bath.
1986
- Positioned Kohler Co. as a major plumbingware force in Europe and Northern Africa with acquisition of Paris-based plumbingware manufacturer Jacob Delafon, the company’s first offshore acquisition.
- Established Kohler Co. Interiors Group with acquisition of Baker Knapp & Tubbs, a premier manufacturer of high-end furniture.
The American Club earned AAA Five Diamond Award, and has earned the prestigious distinction every year since.
1988
- Opened first Kohler Co. golf course, Blackwolf Run, which was named “Best Public Course of 1988” by Golf magazine.
1989
- Acquired Eagle Valley, a 1,450-acre eagle preserve along the Mississippi River.
1990
- Developed 12 Environmental Principles melding environmental stewardship with industrial manufacturing, charting Kohler Co.’s course for environmental sustainability.
1994
- Celebrated the opening of Kohler Co. Inn on Woodlake boutique hotel in the Village of Kohler.
1995
- Hosted the first of three Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf events at Blackwolf Run.
- Led Kohler Co.’s entry into China by way of joint venture with Foshan Kohler Ltd., which manufactures and distributes sanitary ware products.
1997
- Helped launch Kohler Co.’s first website: kohler.com.
1998
- Hosted the memorable 53rd Women’s Open Championship at Blackwolf Run, highlighted by first-ever 18-hole playoff followed by sudden death playoff. Event drew record 123,000 spectators and attracted international media attention. Winner Se Ri Pak introduced golf to South Korea, attracting hordes of young girls to the game.
- Celebrated the grand opening of Whistling Straits, Kohler Co.’s new links-style course along Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Attended with former President George Bush, they participated in a charity tournament that raised $500,000 for First Tee youth golf program.
- Accepted Kohler Co.’s National New Product of the Year Award from the National Society of Professional Engineers for the company’s innovative 19-horsepower overhead cam engine.
2000
- Saw Golf Digest rank Sheboygan County – headlined by Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits – as the seventh-best golf vacation destination in the world, and third-best in the United States.
- Opened Kohler Waters Spa in the Village of Kohler.
2001
- Led Kohler Co.’s entrance into the United Kingdom plumbing market with acquisition of Mira, UK’s leading shower manufacturer.
- Opened Riverbend, a grand historic mansion built by his uncle, Walter J. Kohler, Sr., as a luxurious private membership club.
2003
- Cast as “Café Man” in the western film, “Open Range,” directed by and starring Kevin Costner. He and Costner appeared at Sheboygan County premiere and related events to raise money for the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and Stephanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts.
- Debuted Kohler Original Recipe Chocolates, believing the world deserved something better than a run-of-the-mill turtle dessert.
2004
- Hosted 86th PGA Championship at Straits Course at Whistling Straits, shattering PGA Championship attendance records. Vijay Singh won in three-person playoff.
- Acquired Old Course Hotel and Duke’s Course in Birthplace of Golf: St Andrews, Scotland.
2005
- Acquired France-based SDMO and positioned Kohler Co. as the third-largest generator company in the world.
2006
- Entered India Market with launch of KOHLER plumbing brand.
2007
- Hosted U.S. Senior Open at Straits Course at Whistling Straits. Brad Bryant won the event.
- Acquired Italy-based Lombardini, enabling Kohler Co. to enter diesel engine market.
2008
Kohler earned the EPA’s first WaterSense Partner of the Year award for its commitment to innovate water-efficient products and educating consumers on saving water. The company has been recognized with more than a dozen WaterSense awards – including seven for Sustained Excellence.
- Guided the opening of Yoga on the Lake, continuing the company’s commitment to wellness.
2009
- Led Kohler Co.’s acquisition of Hamilton Hall in St Andrews, Scotland. Once a grand hotel and later a college dormitory, it is one of the most-photographed buildings in golf. Refurbished it into Hamilton Grand, which now features 26 luxury apartments.
2010
- Celebrated 15 millionth mold – a cast iron Villager bathtub – produced on the Herman Machine.
- Attended British Open golf tournament, where Kohler Co.’s Old Course Hotel served as host hotel.
- Hosted 92nd PGA Championship on Straits Course at Whistling Straits, where Martin Kaymer won in two-person playoff.
2011
- Honored as Kohler Co. is inducted into Business Committee for the Arts (BCA) Hall of Fame for leadership, vision and long-term commitment to supporting the arts.
- Shot his only hole-in-one on the 11th hole of the Old Course in St Andrews.
- Guided Kohler Co.’s entrance into South Korea plumbing market with the acquisition of Novita Ltd.
- Launched Numi, KOHLER’s most advanced and innovative toilet, in the United States and China.
2012
- Hosted fifth golf Major championship and second U.S. Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run as South Korean Na Yeon Choi won her first Major championship.
- Dedicated Kohler Environmental Center at his alma mater, Choate Rosemary Hall. The LEED Platinum facility is a state-of-the-art teaching, research and residential environmental center – the first in secondary education.
- Celebrated as The American Club and Kohler Waters Spa earned their first Forbes Five-Star awards.
- Dedicated the Beacon, Kohler Co.’s global headquarters for Communications. The facility earned certified LEED Platinum status by the United States Green Building Council.
2014
- Oversaw Kohler Co.’s entrance into Brazil plumbing market with acquisition of Fiori.
2015
- Opened the KOHLER Center for Manufacturing Excellence at Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, Wisconsin in 2015.
- Hosted 97th PGA Championship on Straits Courts at Whistling Straits. Winner was Jason Day with his first Major championship title.
- Elected by Kohler Co. board of directors as Executive Chairman, son David becomes President and CEO.
2017
- Celebrated opening of Lodge Kohler, Kohler’s fourth hotel property, as part of the Green Bay Packers Titletown Development at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
- Kohler acquired U.K.-based Clarke Energy Ltd. to join Power Group
2018
- Opened the Kohler Innovation Visualization Studio at UW-Madison College of Engineering.
- Helped launch Bold Cycle, positioning Kohler as a world-class wellness destination.
2019
- Opened Kohler Waters Spa Lincoln Park, as the fifth spa location, and first in the City of Chicago.
2020
- Designed and opened The Straits Chapel with clean lines and sweeping views of Lake Michigan. The 150-seat nondenominational chapel is a one-of-a-kind location for hosting indoor and outdoor events, just south of Whistling Straits.
2021
- Opened The Baths of Blackwolf Run, featuring a 10-hole par 3 course, two-acre putting course, food and beverage service, and special event capability.
- Hosted Ryder Cup at the Straits Course at Whistling Straits, after the event was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryder Cups is the biannual international golf competition between the United States and Europe.
- Kohler acquired Curtis Instruments and Heila Technologies to join Power Group
2022
- Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa served as host-hotel for The 150th Open Championship in St Andrews – the birthplace of golf. Also served as the host-hotel for The 144th Open Championship in 2015. Acquired by Kohler Co. in 2004, the hotel sits alongside the famed “Road Hole” on the 17th fairway.