Walter Jodok Kohler Sr., industrialist, philanthropist, and Republican governor from 1929 to 1931, was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin on March 3, 1875, the son of John Michael Kohler Jr. (1844-1900) a Swiss immigrant who settled in Sheboygan. His mother, Lilly Vollrath Kohler, was the daughter of a pioneer Wisconsin manufacturer. In 1873 John Michael Kohler established the foundry and machine shop that eventually became the Kohler Company. In 1888 the company turned from the manufacture of agricultural implements to the production of enameled bathtubs and kitchenware, a field in which it became a national leader.
After education in the Sheboygan public schools, Walter Kohler Sr., began a three-year apprenticeship in 1890 in the enameling department and foundry. At age eighteen he became foreman and, some years later, a superintendent. On the deaths of John Kohler and his son Carl Kohler, his other sons Robert and Walter took over management of the company; after Robert's death in 1905 Walter became president. Under his leadership the firm became one of the largest companies of its kind and a pioneer in the production of plumbing equipment and the manufacture of vitreous china and enamelware. Kohler himself was the inventor of the one-piece built-in bathtub.
In addition, Kohler introduced progressive management policies regarding wages, working conditions, health, safety, insurance, and recreation. One of his management policies was the establishment of Kohler Village which was to be a model industrial community for his employees. Kohler envisioned the community not as a paternalistic company town but as a place in which residents would own their homes and in which labor and management could live together in harmony. As a result of these efforts and his concern for the welfare of his employees, during the 1920s Walter Kohler Sr., came to epitomize the best of American capitalism.
Kohler did not become active in Republican politics until 1928, although he did serve as a Republican presidential elector in 1916. In 1928 he was a delegate at large to the Republican Party's national convention, and in the same year he was persuaded to accept the party's gubernatorial nomination. Because of his reputation as an enlightened businessman and his strong campaign organization Kohler readily defeated Progressive Congressman Joseph Beck in the primary, and he went on to beat Albert Schmedeman, the Democratic candidate, in the general election. Although the Republican Party's Progressive faction attempted to oust Kohler in a widely publicized court case for alleged violations of the state corrupt practices act, Kohler's election was upheld by a unanimous Circuit Court decision.
Kohler's promise to bring sound business practices to Wisconsin government resulted in a number of administrative changes including the creation of the full-time Highway Commission, the creation of a state budget office responsible to the governor, the consolidation of various agricultural agencies, and the creation of the personnel and purchasing bureaus.
Kohler's personal popularity was damaged by the onset of the Great Depression. Unwilling to sanction state or federal relief programs he instead established the Wisconsin Citizen's Committee on Employment headed by Don Lescohier, but this committee was unable to do more than implement educational programs. In 1930 Kohler ran for reelection but was defeated in the primary by Philip La Follette who ran on a platform that included issues associated with the onset of the Great Depression. In 1932 Kohler was successful in another try for the Republican nomination, but he was defeated by the national Democratic landslide in the general election.
Despite the Kohler Company's longstanding commitment to maintaining employment during recessions by means of production and warehouse management, the Great Depression eventually necessitated the layoff of workers. These layoffs coincided with the passage of New Deal legislation that recognized the workers' right to organize. Kohler's refusal to bargain with Federal Labor Union 18545 (AFL) as the exclusive bargaining agent for Kohler workers led to a protracted strike (1934-1941) during which two strikers were killed and 47 wounded. Although suggested again as a possible Republican candidate for governor in 1936, Kohler's electoral career was virtually ended by the negative publicity generated by the strike. In 1937 Kohler turned the presidency of the company over to his half-brother Herbert Sr., and accepted the title of chairman of the board.
Kohler was married to Charlotte H. Schroeder, a former art teacher, in 1900. They were the parents of four sons, Walter Jr., Carl, John M., and Robert. Walter Jr., followed his father as governor of Wisconsin, serving from 1951 to 1957.
