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Good afternoon.
I'm Jim Paskey.
I had the privilege with so many others to work with Senator Cole and the Milwaukee Bucks.
I say work with as that is how he approached it.
He treated us like family.
We were always a team.
Senator Cole was a true servant leader unfailingly putting others before usself.
He lived a life we all admired and a life that we can certainly emulate.
I am honored to be with you here today as we remember and celebrate a great man and a truly remarkable life.
This next hour is our send-off for a man that we all loved.
As we begin we collectively extend our heartfelt condolences, thoughts, and prayers to the entire Cole family.
Thank you for sharing her with us all these years.
Thank you for an excellent turnout today given the weather.
We appreciate you joining us and for your outpouring of support.
You have traveled from near and far.
I think Senator Cole probably ordered our weather today so that fewer people would fawn over him.
We welcome those of you who are joining us on the live stream, Bucks.com, and also on local stations.
We appreciate you being with us.
We thank our sign language interpreters from ACT Interpreting Lee Wiznet and Jill Kina Han Cry.
All segments of Senator Cole's life are beautifully represented by your presence today.
We have contingents of past and present Milwaukee Bucks business and basketball staff.
The ownership group is represented today, current and former players.
And of course those touched by Senator Cole's unending philanthropy and many of you from the world of politics.
The Senator positively impacted so many across his wide spectrum of engagement.
I'm told just this morning President Biden called and offered his heartfelt condolences to the family.
We start by welcoming the elected officials who are with us.
We will also mention some who could not be here because of the weather.
We thank you for joining us today.
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin.
Congresswoman Gwen Moore.
Governor Tony Evers and First Lady Kathy Evers.
Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Dalit.
State Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction, Dr. Jill Underlee.
Wisconsin State Assembly Minority Leader Representative Greta Newbauer.
Milwaukee County Executive David and Erica Crowley.
District Attorney John Chisel.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
Racine Mayor Corey and Rebecca Mason.
And those who intended to be with us and could not make it today,
we recognize former Governor Jim Doyle and former First Lady Jessica Doyle.
Supreme Court Justice Janet Potisawitz.
Supreme Court Justice Jill Korofsky and Secretary of State Sarah God-Luski.
Thank you all for being with us.
All segments of Senator Cole's life will be beautifully represented
and we will hear from people who knew him very well.
As past chair of the Wisconsin State Democratic Party, Senator Cole would be
honored by all of the past state Democratic chairs who are also here today
and we welcome you and thank you for coming as well.
We will hear some beautiful tributes.
But to start things off, let's watch a video that includes footage
of Senator Cole footage that until today has not been seen.
Senator Cole.
When I grew up, education was the most important thing in our family.
Maybe because my parents came from Europe as immigrants and had no formal education
and we were so fortunate to be raised in a home where education was the most
important thing that they emphasized, talked about, and were acquired from us.
So it goes way back to when I was very young and came about as a result of my folks
in their background.
When I got elected to the U.S. Senate, I began to think about what I wanted to start
giving back to our state.
Education, of course, was foremost in my mind from the way I grew up and how it
enabled me to become successful.
So I thought an educational foundation would be a good way to start giving back
to the people of Wisconsin, all the good things that have happened to me.
And the foundation has come to fruition.
Having the chance to be here with you, winners and your family and your friends
to celebrate educational excellence is a very important day for you
and a very important day for me.
It recognizes outstanding students, outstanding teachers, outstanding principals
as they go about their work to make the lives of other people better.
Education is a very foundation of our society, of our civilization.
We must have well-educated people if we're going to preserve our democracy.
If you're going to have elections and people who are going to make decisions,
you need for them to be well-informed.
Part of it being well-informed is to be well-educated.
And so it's paramount.
If we do a good job of educating our people, then our democracy can go on
and be successful.
But if we don't, there's a great peril.
I think we see much of that in today's world.
I believe in education. I know how important it is.
That is a never-ending job that we have, particularly in a democracy.
And in my small way, I'd like to set an example.
When you think about it, if you're lucky enough or fortunate enough
to amass some level of resources, what do you do with it if you don't give it away?
So I'd rather give it away for good reasons and good purposes
and then leave it when I'm gone to continue the work,
trying to do good things, not only in education, but in other ways.
Most of it in the state.
And I'm so grateful to be able to do it.
I know how lucky I am.
Most of it has come as a result of living here in the state,
working here in the state with people in Wisconsin.
And so I give back.
But I think most everybody would do it if they were in my situation.
You know, everybody wants to do whatever they can to make this world a better place.
And in my own small way, I have to try to do that too.
Thank you.
We knew you would enjoy that.
Thank you.
Laquita Caldwell is an educator who inspires young people.
She has been one of the recipients of Herb Cole's commitment to connecting young people to Washington, D.C.
She is also a Milwaukee artist, especially when it comes to the spoken word.
When Laquita learned of Senator Cole's passing, she put her thoughts into a beautiful tribute.
Please welcome Laquita Caldwell.
Good afternoon.
When I started to think about former Senator Herb Cole,
I thought about something that my mentors told me.
It's not what you say about yourself.
It's what others say.
I stand here today as one of the seeds that he planted.
But I'll also stand here on behalf of the thousands of youth that he impacted through his generosity.
It's not because he had to do it.
It's because he thought it was the right thing to do.
And I'm so forever grateful for all of the impact he's made on me
as a staff who serves kids every day and on behalf of the thousands of young people
who serve and live in the great state of Wisconsin.
The title of my piece is The Fruit of Service.
In the realm of time where destinies unfold,
you with unwavering commitment planted seeds, stories yet untold.
With hands of compassion, you reshaped our collective fate,
a constant source of light unburdened by the weight.
Generations embrace the illumination of your wisdom
across the vast expanse of the nation through night and days kingdom.
Your influence, a potent force, a resonated strong and clear,
a symphony of transformation echoing far and near.
As a catalyst for dreams, you carved unconventional ways,
empowering hearts in the face of life's complex maze.
Guidance and wisdom served as accomplished true,
navigating courses anew, crafting dreams through and through.
Your tireless reach transcended the confines of borders,
lessons blurred state lines, dissolving divisive orders,
lives touched, passions ignited, ablaze radiant and bold,
a brilliant similar to the boundless warmth of sunshine gold.
From advantage of inspiration, your position served high,
uplifting souls setting hearts ablaze with purpose in the sky,
a lasting mark etched in the fabric of time,
a legacy enduring, a rhythm harmonious and sublime.
These seeds once sewn have grown into a garden vast,
bearing fruits of progress, a vibrant and evolving contrast.
Your spirit, your spirit lingers beyond the fading breath of life,
a testament to resilience, conquering mortality strife.
Former Senator Herb Cole, we echo your dedication with gratitude
for nurturing dreams for a hope renewed, compassion and grace,
the tools that wrought change, a single embrace capable of a world rearranged
in reflection, gratitude for the profound impact you gave,
seeds of belief in a world destined to be saved.
May your legacy shine in the deepest of nights,
a brighter tomorrow where dreams take limitless flights.
Your work, your work flows like a river where wisdom eternally flows,
seeds of hope, a flourishing domain of the human soul,
an eternal refrain of the human soul. Thank you.
Thank you for the great impact that thousands lives touched,
a statesman and a leader deeply cherished and deeply clutched.
In the ever-expanding garden of time, your bloom never fades.
Former Senator Herb Cole, in our hearts, your legacy forever laid.
In our hearts, your legacy forever laid. Thank you.
Thank you, Lakita. That was wonderful.
Herb Cole was known for many things.
He was a business leader, former bucks owner, of course,
a senator and a philanthropist.
What you may not know is that he was a classically-trained pianist
with a great appreciation for music in the arts.
Members of the Milwaukee Symphony have joined us today to play some of Herb's favorite pieces.
We begin with a selection from French composer Claude Debussy.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you so much.
Some people truly need no introduction.
He is, of course, Alan H. Bud ceiling, Commissioner Emeritus of Major League Baseball.
He is here today as a lifelong friend of Senator Cole.
Herb cherished his friendship with Bud, which started between two young boys,
carried through college as roommates at Wisconsin,
and continued through decades of their wondrous personal and professional lives,
a friendship of more than 80 years.
Please welcome Mr. Bud ceiling.
I know that this is a sad day for all of us, and I must say I feel it with all my heart,
saying goodbye to Herb after more than 80 years of saying hello,
and so many more welcoming and positive words is really difficult.
My friendship with Herb was a long and wonderful journey.
When we first met, we were six years old.
We were living on the west side of Milwaukee and attending Sherman School.
We became instant friends, and we go to school together.
One day, his father would drive us, and the next day, my father would drive us.
We were both in the sports and would play after school.
One day, late in the afternoon, on April 12, 1945,
we were playing a game called Strike Out against the Wall at Sherman School.
When we noticed both our mothers walking towards us with a great deal of sadness on their faces.
FDR just died, they told us, and Herb and I remembered that moment and used to talk about it.
A year or so later, while still at Sherman School, we were playing baseball against each other.
Now, I'm going to tell a story, Joanne, for the eight-thousandth time.
Herb loved this story, and when I get done with it, many of you have probably heard it because he told it everywhere.
We were six graders at a time. I was the captain of my team, and Herb was the captain of his.
He had fun with this story, got lots of laughs at my expense, which was okay.
I brought in a kid named Jack Hauser, who made his soul rest in peace, to pitch for my team.
Herb wanted to know who this kid was, where did he come from?
Herb, he was a classmate.
Well, many have said Herb was intense, and this story proves it.
He couldn't get a hit off my pitcher.
We won the game, and I think we beat him by more than 20 runs.
And for years, he'd accuse me of being a ringer.
He told a story because he said he wanted people to know.
That here's a man they hired as a commissioner of baseball to protect baseball's integrity.
And look what he did.
Now, I will admit to you in retrospect, that Jack did look a little older than 12.
From Sherman School, we attended Stuartman, Jr. High, and then Washington.
After we graduated, I went to the University of Wisconsin and Madison.
Well, Herb first attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
We kept talking to each other over the phone, and after one semester, he came to Madison.
We had both joined Pyram.
Fraternity, we roomed together in our last year, and a half in college.
We both majored in American institutions, which was a combination of American history and political science, and took many of the same courses.
However, this will tell you something about him and me.
The only difference, he'd take all the classes at 7.45 in the morning.
And that took the same class at 4.30 in the afternoon.
After graduation, we went our separate ways, but remained close friends, always keep in contact.
I joined my father's automobile business, as many of you know, got involved with baseball.
Herb went to Harvard Business School where he earned a master's, and of course, as he went to his family business and then the politics and sports.
I've often been asked if I was surprised that he became a politician, and then an owner of the box.
My answer is no.
From early on, he loves sports, but always wanted to do public service, always.
He was a man, let's say this carefully, with a great loyalty and intensity.
He had a great feeling for people.
I remember a time, he and I used to meet at a big boy out on Highway 100 for dinner often, and he'd go to one of his places and then come to my office.
But he introduced me to all of his employees.
He knew everyone's name.
He had a personal and positive word to say about each one.
A remarkable trait.
He was incredibly devoted to the city of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin.
That was evident throughout his years in the Senate, as well as during his tenure as owner of the box.
In my long career as commissioner, I dealt with club owners throughout my career, and I can tell you there were always owners who conducted frenetic searches to move their teams to greener pasture.
History, of course, is replete with those examples, one of which, of course, was the move of the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles.
But here you had heard, whose loyalty to his city and state was not only beyond reproach, it was aberrationally.
There is no doubt that he could have sold his team for a fortune.
Yet his only goal was to keep the bucks in Milwaukee, and he sacrificed willingly to do so.
Once he sold the bucks, as you know, he gave ten million dollars to his team's employees.
I remember him telling him that.
And to me, that exactly, it was heard cold.
His loyalty and devotion to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Basket Fund, and all the people who are here today who work for him, was incredible.
Really unusual in this day and age.
Throughout the years, we maintained our personal relationship.
We stayed in contact with always a great amount of humor and joking around.
We did agitate each other a lot, and it was fun, actually, in a matter of fact.
Over most of the last decade, Herb and I would join each other for lunch every Thursday at 11.45 at the Pfister Hotel.
Not too long ago, I got wrapped up in something and showed up about ten minutes late.
Herb was sitting at a table, shaking his head and his finger.
A lot of you will understand that.
What would Vince say, Herb said?
Vince, of course, was a great Vince Lombardi who had no tolerance for lateness, but a man at Herb and I had a great deal to respect for it.
And so, every Thursday at 11.45 a.m., I'll be thinking of Herb and our lunches at the Pfister.
I'm going to miss those lunches, and I'm going to treasure them, because I will always treasure all the times we spent together over the past eight decades.
Thank you.
Thank you, Commissioner.
What a beautiful example of serendipity.
Two boyhood friends, both go on to own professional sports franchises.
One becomes the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, the other of four-term United States Senator.
It's a reminder that we should always try to live our daydreams.
Those two gentlemen made my daydreams come true.
Herb Cole and Bud Seeley.
And now representing the Cole family, please welcome Dan Cole.
Dan is the son of Allen and Barbara Cole Spyro and Senator Cole's nephew.
Dan Cole.
Hi, everyone.
Thank you so much for braving these terrible elements to be here.
I'm Dan Cole, Herb's nephew, and I have the honor today of representing the family for a celebration of an incredible life.
Over 50 family members spanning four generations are here coming from all across the country and from Canada in Israel.
I know I speak for all of us when I say thank you to all of you for appreciating and cherishing Herb Cole.
I'd also like to express our deep appreciation for the outpouring of love, memories, and well wishes since Herb's passing.
The hundreds of written tributes and recollections are something our family will forever cherish.
There are too many people to mention individually by name, but a very special thank you to Joanne Anton and to Arlene Bronca.
Joanne and Arlene, thank you for everything you have done for Herb and with Herb all these many years.
The Cole family is so very grateful to the two of you.
There couldn't be a more fitting sight to honor my uncle than where we are gathered here today.
Without Herb's fierce dedication to keeping the bucks in Milwaukee, this magnificent building wouldn't exist and NBA basketball might already be gone from this city.
When my uncle sold the team almost a decade ago, Herb being Herb, he donated $100 million from his proceeds to the construction of this building.
As the facility neared completion, the bucks suggested honoring Herb with a statue outside the arena.
My uncle declined saying, I'm just not a statue kind of guy.
Thereby giving rise to a perfectly named walkway outside the arena entrance, the Herb Cole Way.
The Herb Cole Way was always about staying humble and down to earth.
The Herb Cole Way was about being generous and kind.
The Herb Cole Way was about living a life full of good deeds and service.
The Herb Cole Way was about being the ultimate champion for the city of Milwaukee and for the state of Wisconsin.
My uncle was extraordinarily and truly one of a kind and he never forgot where he came from.
Herb always remained true to the values that my immigrant grandparents, Max and Mary Cole, instilled in him and his three siblings.
Growing up on 51st Boulevard on Milwaukee's west side, Herb, my uncle Sid, my aunt Dolores, and my father Alan were taught that hard work, honesty, and treating others with kindness and respect were the most important things in life.
Herb embodied these values and he lived out these values all throughout his remarkable life.
As the commissioner said, Herb was legendary for knowing each and every Cole's employee in grocery stores all across the state.
He also made it his business to memorize the names of their husbands, wives, and their children.
For almost 30 years, the Milwaukee Bucks were my uncle's pride and joy and often a source of frustration given how competitive Herb was.
Upon selling the Bucks, once the team's future in Milwaukee was secured, Herb gave large farewell bonuses to every Bucks employee and to every single Bradley Center worker.
Who else would have done that but my amazing uncle?
Herb served for 24 years in the Ultimate Power Club as United States Senator, yet he never craved the spotlight and he never boasted about his significant Senate accomplishments.
In the 1970s, my uncle purchased the most beautiful ranch in Wyoming, mostly so he could share it with friends, family members, and sometimes people he had only recently met.
As a philanthropist, Herb is probably best known for making the lead donation and having the Cole Center named after him at his beloved University of Wisconsin in Madison.
But his true charitable legacy are all the lives he transformed through Cole teaching fellowships and Cole student scholarships.
Herb never married, he never had children, but he had multiple families. Everyone who worked at Cole stores, you were his family.
Everyone who worked for the Bucks, you were Herb's family. Everyone who worked for my uncle in the Senate, you were his family too.
The Cole family has always cherished being able to share Herb with so many people he loved and who loved him back, and today is no different.
No one ever took more of an interest in people he met at random, particularly children than my uncle.
I am Herb, he would say, introducing himself to kids at the Fister coffee shop or at Ma Fishers. What's your name?
Another part of my uncle's secret sauce was his sense of humor and his ability to poke fun of himself at his own expense.
Did I ever tell you about the time it was double bageled? Herb would repeat to me whenever we spoke about tennis, a shared love of ours,
referring to the time he didn't win a game and was hustled out of a tidy sum by a local ringer.
If you worked in my uncle's Senate office, you certainly heard his oft repeated story about Bill Proxmire, another Wisconsin political legend,
whom my uncle succeeded in office. Early in his first term, Proxmire patted Herb on the back, saying he was a model senator.
As my uncle told the story, much better than me, he was very flattered by Senator Proxmire's words until he looked up the dictionary definition of the word model.
A small replica of the real thing.
My uncle was also stubborn and set in his ways.
For decades, he wore the same few pairs of pants, his lucky, bluer green blazer, a way too thin windbreaker, and his well worn bucks baseball caps.
It's great seeing my mother wearing one of those today.
On his birthday, family members would often buy Herb a sweater or a scarf.
Of course, they went into his closet and never came out.
Herb remained as sharp as ever right until the very end.
In recent phone conversations, Herb and I spoke about the October 7 attacks in Israel, the war in Gaza, and about the upcoming presidential election.
When grim conversations like these ended, Herb would often jab me and say, Dan, thanks as always for cheering me up.
For me, Herb was like a second father and a brother and a best friend rolled into one.
When we spoke for the last time, the Friday before his passing, his parting words were, I love you.
I love you to Herb.
I will miss you so.
Rest in peace, my dear uncle.
Let's raise those hats one time.
Everybody raise your hats up to Senator Cole, the iconic baseball cap.
I would turn around.
I used to sit right over there.
I'd turn around and Senator Cole was wearing his baseball cap.
So what a wonderful tribute.
And speaking of him sitting right over here, one of the great nights happened just a couple of years ago.
When we had the privilege of awarding Senator Cole an NBA championship ring awarded by Commissioner Adam Silver.
It was a fabulous moment, and we'll never forget that.
Danny, thank you so much.
Let's enjoy another of Herb's musical favorites.
This comes from composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.