Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, the Lake Forest, Illinois-based couple, founders of the Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin-based packaging company Uline, have dumped over $4 million to several groups . Between 2014 and 2020, the foundation has spent about $91 million mostly on grants to groups, including: American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), American Majority, Conservative Partnership Institute, The Federalist Society, Heritage Foundation, Turning Point USA, and Americans for Prosperity (, In June, The Financial Times Courtney Weaver and Caitlin Gilbert reported that 19 months into the 2022 midterm election cycle, Uihlein has given more than any other Republican so far, becoming a megadonor with the potential to take up the mantle of the once pre-eminent Koch brothers, whose standing in the party has fallen in the post-Trump landscape (, In an early August piece for Forbes titled Meet The Billionaire Couple Pumping Their Fortune Into Right-Wing Politics, Kyle Mullins and Carlos Snchez Mora reported that the Wisconsin-based business, which [the Uihleins] run as CEO and president, respectively, does an estimated $6.1 billion in annual sales, enough to make the pair worth $4 billion apiece, according to, Meet Billionaire GOP Megadonors Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, https://www.wisdc.org/news/press-releases/136-press-release-2022/7161-influence-peddler-for-august-2022-richard-and-elizabeth-uihlein, https://www.ft.com/content/70fbafde-a802-4425-ab9c-735788f575f3, https://www.forbes.com/sites/kylemullins/2022/08/03/meet-the-billionaire-couple-pumping-their-fortune-into-right-wing-politics/?sh=18629d9f59aa, Ways to get involved in the upcoming elections. X, So early were the Uihleins that when they moved into the home in 1919, wrote H. Russell Zimmermann in his book Magnificient Milwaukee, they were living among farms without roads or sidewalks; the mansion was run on bottled gas.. [2] He received a Bachelor of Science from Harvard University in 1938, and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1941. In 1883 William J. Uihlein brought the first pure culture yeast strain to the United States from Copenhagen, which allowed Schlitz to produce a higher quality beer more consistently. Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Robert A. Uihlein Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of the Jos. In 1850, Krug hired Joseph Schlitz as a bookkeeper, and then Schlitz took over as brewery manager when Krug died in 1856. Your family, your house, your yard, your own little corner of the worldthese are things you can control and make better, she wrote in one letter. Fair Courts America, a Super Pac largely bankrolled by Richard Uihlein, was created in 2020 with the aim of combatting the woke mob by shifting the balance of state and federal courts towards the far right. [4] The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 temporarily destroyed the local brewing industry, and Schlitz more than doubled sales over the next year. Don't miss a story! What the GOP moneybags in Chicago is trying to do with his Ohio campaign to save our constitution. The new company is headquartered in Los Angeles but has a contract with MillerCoors to brew Pabst Blue Ribbon and Schlitz beers, including Old Milwaukee beer, through 2020. Our annual community magazine is a great place to discover what were all about and what makes Lakewood Ranch Americas favorite place to call home. There are some 300 members of the Uihlein clan, descendents of August Krug, who founded Schlitz in 1849, but its senior member is Henry Uihlein 2d, an 85-year-old private investor. Schlitz bought the brewery after Krug died unexpectedly in 1856, and married his widow in 1858. She was the daughter of James K. Ilsley, President of Marshall & Ilsley Bank. But that stabilizer had an unexpected side effect: It caused protein in the beer to settle out in little white flakes, which customers complained about. Uihlein, August 1842 - 1911 | Wisconsin Historical Society when offered a chance to swap Schlitz for another beer; consumers found the ad somewhat threatening and sales continued to fall. How Milwaukee's Famous Beer Became Infamous His body was never recovered. The Schlitz board closed the Milwaukee plant, and sold out to the Stroh Brewing Company in 1982. [14], Schlitz returned to its position as a national brewing leader after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, becoming the largest American brewery again by 1947, and remained in either first or second place until the mid-1970s. Well, there you go. 29 Apr 2023 18:02:35 The Schlitz drinker then talked about how they would never switch and jokingly threatened the person trying to persuade them away from their favorite beer. PHOTOS: Mahler Sotheby's International Realty. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Kelly himself has predicted that total outside donations could reach $20m a sum that dwarfs anything Wisconsin has ever seen bragging that he was the candidate best placed to attract the cash. Contract negotiations broke down. The corrupt Statehouse Republicans, on the verge of passing a sinister assault on Ohio voters via a sneaky summertime election, are not on your side. The Uihlein family grew rich by owning Schlitz beer for a century. Those conspiring to shut down the peoples views on abortion rights, fair legislative districts, higher minimum wage, commonsense gun reform, etc., are marshaling forces with an out-of-state, hard-right Daddy Warbucks. So, in 1976, they switched to a different stabilizer that could be filtered out at the end of the brewing process, meaning it wouldn't have to be listed as an ingredient. Neither is the right-wing rubberstamp in the governors office. In an early August piece for Forbes titled Meet The Billionaire Couple Pumping Their Fortune Into Right-Wing Politics, Kyle Mullins and Carlos Snchez Mora reported that the Wisconsin-based business, which [the Uihleins] run as CEO and president, respectively, does an estimated $6.1 billion in annual sales, enough to make the pair worth $4 billion apiece, according to Forbesestimates (https://www.forbes.com/sites/kylemullins/2022/08/03/meet-the-billionaire-couple-pumping-their-fortune-into-right-wing-politics/?sh=18629d9f59aa). Mr. Uihlein, who was once described as one of the beer barons who made Milwaukee famous, was the fourth generation of his family to head the 127yearold Schlitz company. Schlitz was born on May 31, 1831, in Mayence (Mainz), as the son of Johann Schlitz, a cooper and wine trader, and his wife Louisa. Historic Beer Birthday: August Uihlein - Brookston Beer Bulletin [28] The classic 1960s theme was also reflected when 1968 Playboy magazine playmate Cynthia Myers became a spokeswoman for Schlitz beer in 2009. To prevent having to disclose the artificial additive of the silica gel, Uihlein switched to an agent called "Chill-garde" which would be filtered out at the end of production, so would be considered nondisclosable. Despite this change, the Uihleins decided to keep the name Schlitz, as Americans had difficulty pronouncing their surname. In the late 50s, Anheuser-Busch pulled ahead in the competition, and Schlitz, now managed by the Uihlein family who was related to the brewery's original founder August Krug, made a series of decisions that would lead to the gradual downfall of the Schlitz brewery. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. The Schlitz Brewing Company (1849-1982) was one of Milwaukees industrial brewing giants. Schlitz beer got its start in 1848 in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, tavern brewery owned by August Krug. Uihleins super PAC threatens to keep score of GOP legislators tempted to stand up for Ohio voters. Privacy Policy. My predecessors centralized authority. The Schlitz Brewing Company originated in August Krugs pioneer restaurant/brewery, established on Chestnut Street (now Juneau), between Fourth and Fifth Streets, in 1849. The company announced that it plans to have most of its beer made by City Brewing Company by the end of 2024. (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication. Neither is the right-wing rubberstamp in the governors office. Uihlein money has backed some pretty unsavory characters. Mr. Uihlein was ready with an answer. Urban spelunking: 1907 Schlitz tied house for sale at 27th and Lisbon, UPDATE: Stunning 1891 German Renaissance Revival Schuster Mansion up for auction, Local agent does double duty in "House Hunters" Milwaukee episode, See inside this 1889 Edward Townsend Mix house that's now for sale. Schlitz incorporated in 1873, and the Uihlein family (of the Krug line) took over control of the company after Schlitz's death in a shipwreck in 1875. The source of the Uihleins fabulous wealth traces back to 1875, when Joseph Schlitz, the owner of a brewing company, died in a shipwreck off the Isles of Scilly. X, In something of a twist, the home designed by Kirchhoff & Rose (preferred Schlitz architects for its tied house taverns, the Schlitz Palm Gardens and other properties) was built by Schlitz Brewing scion Herman Uihlein and was the first home erected in the new subdivision created from the land that had previously been home to Pabsts Whitefish Bay Resort. The Schlitz company was often a cosponsor of free concerts in Central Park by the New York Philharmonic. One observer questioned at the time whether the brewing company's investment in fine music helped to sell Schlitz beer. [1], Under Schlitzs leadership, the company built a new, larger brewery on Third and Walnut Streets in 1870. In addition, she has donated $200,000 to Democratic groups in the past year as well as $250,000 to A Better Wisconsin Together, a political fund that funnels dark money contributions whose origins cannot easily be traced to progressive statewide candidates. A slew of special interests have waded into the race, with an offshoot of the anti-abortion group Susan B Anthony Pro-Life America promising to invest six figures in Kellys campaign. Madison liberals are trying to take over the Wisconsin supreme court, one of the Super Pacs ads says. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1597166322662-mid-article-1'); }); While the home is currently owned by former Bucyrus CEO Tim Sullivan, who bought it in 2007, it was previously owned by Kallas Rao, who purchased it from Peter Buffett the musician son of billionaire Warren Buffett when the latter relocated to New York City. Good question. August Uihlein was Schlitz company secretary from 1874 and also chairman of the board from 1880 until his death in 1911, and was prominently identified with banking, real estate, and many other Milwaukee enterprises. The outcome of the state supreme court race could influence critical areas of public life, such as abortion rights. Uihlein family - Wikipedia [2] [8] Schlitz was the first to introduce the brown bottle to industrial brewing in 1911, which protected the beer from the harmful effects of light during shipping. In 1875, Schlitz returned to his homeland on the SS Schiller. Between 1885-1902 the farmsteads were acquired and condensed into a single Uihlein Schlitz family property. In 1902, Schlitz produced one million barrels of beer, making it the largest brewery in the country. It has distribution centers throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It was founded in 1980 by Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein. Ranch activities have included cattle ranching and citrus, tree and turf farming, and aggregate mining. Schlitz Brewing Company and a member of one of the country's most prominent brewing and banking families, died Friday. The targeted blasts aimed to pressure reticent Ohio House Republicans to approve an August ballot initiative that stifles the capacity of Ohioans to amend their constitution with a supermajority vote and punishing new requirements for ballot signatures. Mr. Uihlein haves his wife, the former Lorraine Glaeser, and two sons. By the 1980s, Schlitz had rebounded somewhat, but it had now fallen from the second-most-popular brewery in the country to the fourth, as Miller and Pabst had overtaken it for the first time in decades. Why is a fat cat in Illinois trying to influence lawmaking in Ohio that attempts to destroy the ability of citizens to amend their constitution? In that world the majority no longer rules. Because of the nonstandard brewery design, Baldwinsville is unique and capable of complex production, making it a key player in the 12 domestic Anheuser-Busch plants. When Miller released Miller Lite, the Schlitzbrewery responded with Schlitz Light beer in 1976, but the new beer wasn't a hit with customers. Mrs. Uihlein, who had been a resident of the home for the last six months, made her home at 145 Central Park West in New York . The Italian Renaissance Herman A. Uihlein Mansion, 5270 N. Lake Dr. in Whitefish Bay is listed for $6,950,000. Most striking is the impressive rounded entryway featuring immense columns, a front door adorned by an elaborate wrought iron grille and a sheltered second-floor balcony. Since the early 1900s, the Uihlein family, one of the original owners of the Schlitz Brewery, has owned the property. The primary changes involved using corn syrup to replace some of the malted barley, adding a silica gel to prevent the product from forming a haze,[9] using high-temperature fermentation instead of the traditional method, and also substituted less-expensive extracts rather than traditional ingredients. Lake Forest megadonors eschewed suburban candidates in the first What remained of the historic Schlitz Brewery complex in Milwaukee was transformed with tax increment financing and other government support into a mixed-use development called Schlitz Park. Management was promptly passed to the four Uihlein brothers, August, Henry, Alfred and Edward. [29], In 2014, Pabst Brewing Company was purchased by American entrepreneur Eugene Kashper and TSG Consumer Partners. Between 2014 and 2020, the foundation has spent about $91 million mostly on grants to groups, including: American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), American Majority, Conservative Partnership Institute, The Federalist Society, Heritage Foundation, Turning Point USA, and Americans for Prosperity (https://www.wisdc.org/news/press-releases/136-press-release-2022/7161-influence-peddler-for-august-2022-richard-and-elizabeth-uihlein). ALFRED EUGENE UIHLEIN, the third brother, was also born in Baden, Germany. Period. In Wisconsin's supreme court race, a super-rich beer family calls the It is. The pavilion is surmounted by a full entablature (with bracketed cornice) and crowned with a balustrade. About 700 production workers went on strike on June 1, 1981. During Prohibition, Schlitz faced difficulties trying to stay open and keep their workers employed. "My brother Chip was the best one of all of us," said Phil. The Department of Justice didn't allow either of those takeovers to happen, but in June 1982 did allow for Detroit brewing company Stroh to purchase Schlitz. Schlitz became ubiquitous under the jingle: The beer that made Milwaukee famous.. All comments must follow the Encyclopedia of Milwaukee Community rules and terms of use, and will be moderated prior to posting. Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company - Wikipedia [23] He was trained as a bookkeeper but also learned the basics of brewing in his parents' milieu. [10] Schlitz first introduced its belted globe logo in 1892 and its memorable slogan, The beer that made Milwaukee famous, in 1894. Illinois billionaire attacking Ohio voters also funded Jan. 6 and S chlitz isnt the only well-known old Milwaukee beer (you may recognize the names Pabst, Miller, and Blatz), but its the beer that made Milwaukee a beer town. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Robert Uihlein Jr. (19161976) was a German-American heir, businessman, polo player and philanthropist. [3] He was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Lake Worth, Florida on February 17, 2001. [3] Schlitz was bought by Stroh Brewery Company in 1982 and subsequently sold along with the rest of Stroh's assets to Pabst Brewing Company in 1999. The Illinois plutocrat is bankrolling a brand new super PAC in Ohio (that can spend unlimited amounts of his dough) to shut down our voice in the state. In the tradition of his family, Mr. Uihlein attended the United States Brewers Academy and the Wallerstein Laboratories in New York for special training in brewing. Uihlein joined the family business, Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, full-time in the sales staff department, in 1942. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. How just one family rose to such pre-eminence in political spending, only to become split between opposing factions, is a very Wisconsin story. Kind of goes right to the heart of the phony Republican argument for making it near-impossible to pass citizen initiatives in the state: To protect the Ohio Constitution from. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Two years later, Schlitz married Anna Maria Krug, August Krug's widow, and changed the name of the brewery to the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. He married Mary Stevens Ilsley on 18 September 1913. [3][5] He also won several Sunshine League and Twenty Goal titles. Despite the severity of the current slump, the company. He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry. [22] The Schlitz management team finally threw in the towel and began negotiating a deal to sell the company and cut their losses. Exterior of Schlitz Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1888. Are we spending too much on welfare programs? [23], The once-strong Schlitz brand was relegated to cheap beer or "bargain brand" status and became increasingly difficult to find in bars and restaurants. The Financial Times reported that In the 2022 primaries, Uihlein has given $2.5mn to the Senate campaign of Eric Greitens, the disgraced former governor of Missouri who left office amid accusations of funds misappropriation and sexual misconduct, which Greitens denies. The Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company was an American brewery based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was once the largest producer of beer in the United States. [5] Although it has fallen from its former title as one of America's most popular beers, the Schlitz brand is still alive today and remains a sentimental favorite in the Midwest. [3], Uihlein supported the American Cancer Society, the National Business Committee for the Arts, and the New York Philharmonic. Anyone can read what you share. [5], On November 13, 2014, Pabst announced that it had completed its sale to Blue Ribbon Intermediate Holdings, LLC. Richard Uihlein also serves as president of the Ed Uihlein Family Foundation, which provides grants to civic organizations as well as rightwing groups and causes, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign reported in early August. In between praise for her employees and listings for boxes and bubble wrap, Elizabeth Uihlein poses provocative questions: Is America in decline? Their innovations, including the first brown beer bottle, first 16oz flat-top can, first aluminum beer cans, and first "pop-top . Mullins reported that In addition, the Uihleins cut checks totaling $292,100 to Ron Johnson Victory, a joint fundraising committee that supports Johnsons campaign and other Republican groups. The company had to recall 10 million bottles, losing $1.4 million. [2] He then attended the U.S. Good question. Kind of goes right to the heart of the phony Republican argument for making it near-impossible to pass citizen initiatives in the state: To protect the Ohio Constitution from meddling outside influences. The speaker warns that the clock is ticking and conservatives across Ohio are demanding action of key lawmakers (insert Speaker Jason Stephens name here). August Uihlein (1842-1911) - Find a Grave Memorial All Rights Reserved. As part of its efforts to reverse the sales decline, Schlitz launched a disastrous 1977 television ad campaign created by Leo Burnett & Co. Its namesake beer, Schlitz ( /lts/), was known as "The beer that made Milwaukee famous" and was advertised with the slogan "When you're out of Schlitz, you're out of beer". Kos Media, LLC. Blue Ribbon is a partnership between American beer entrepreneur Eugene Kashper and TSG Consumer Partners, a San Francisco-based, private-equity firm. But even famous beer wasn't legal during Prohibition. Back in 2014 the Uihleins were reported to have spent 5 million. [25] In 1999, Pabst Brewing Company gained control of the Schlitz brand with its acquisition of the Stroh Brewery Company. [13] Schlitz's pioneering of the brown bottle was the inspiration for the Schlitz Brown Bottle Restaurant in Milwaukee, which opened in 1938. (modern). In the 1940s and 1950s, Schlitz and Budweiser traded places several times as the No. German-American heir, businessman, polo player and philanthropist, "Robert A. Uihlein, Chairman of Schlitz, Is Dead at 60", "University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee biography", "Uihlein Family History (The Milwaukee Brewing Family)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Uihlein_Jr.&oldid=1132961628, University of Wisconsin Law School alumni, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 11 January 2023, at 14:51. Youve probably never heard of this guy, Dick Uihlein. The agent reacted badly with a foam stabilizer that was used and Schlitz recalled 10 million bottles of beer, costing it $1.4 million. Forbes magazine recently noted that, Together, the couple is the fourth biggest donor to political campaigns in the U.S., having reported giving over $190 million, according to FEC filings.. Schlitz primarily focused on producing malt extract and non-alcoholic soft drinks called Schlitz Famo that they used to keep the brewing equipment operational, as the Uihleins correctly deduced that Prohibition would not be permanent. A Big Lie promoter buying his way into Ohio politics to subvert our right of self-governance is no champion of democracy. Here is the complete listing, which includes video. The bulk of their. [11] In 1898, Schlitz sent highly publicized gifts of beer to Admiral George Deweys men after their victory in Manila during the Spanish-American War and to Theodore Roosevelts hunting party in Africa. [2], Uihlein attended the Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1934. Opposing views are silenced. Sign up to receive updates about new model homes, new villages, and all of the latest news and events happening here at Lakewood Ranch. Herman Uihlein who was on the board at Schlitz died in 1942 and his wife left in 1946. While the changes worked, at least for a little while, other breweries like Anheuser-Busch and Miller accused Schlitz of selling green beer, or beer that is too young. Period. The Uihleins live in a suburb of Chicago, but their heritage lies in Wisconsin. Despite pouring millions into the chocolate division and creating a hard candy and gumball line, the venture was a failure and was abandoned by 1928. [21] Leadership was transferred out of the Uihlein family for the first time after the death of Robert Uihlein, Jr. in 1976. Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein - Wikipedia and vote with conservatives. Or else. The family would control Schlitz for the next 106 years." "One of the first people granted a Schlitz franchise was Kansas City mob figure John Lazia." h/t @StringwallApp. When Anna Maria Krug Schlitz died in 1887, the Uihleins acquired complete ownership of the firm, and the Uihlein family continued to run the brewery for over one hundred years. He was reportedly one of the biggest financial supporters of the Jan 6 rally. They use receptacles for their beer cans.. In 1915 he bought a 3-acre lot on the former site of the Pabst Whitefish Bay Resort, a beer garden resort established in 1888. How the Uline Box Empire Has Fueled Election Denial ProPublica [1][2] His grandsons, Robin and James Uihlein, play polo at the Sarasota Polo Club in Sarasota, Florida. In 1967, Schlitz introduced a more efficient brewing process called accelerated batch fermentation. While allowing for a lighter beer to be produced at lower costs, consumers believed the change was made at the expense of the beers quality. Schlitz Brewing family mansion built on the old Pabst - OnMilwaukee The deal included the Schlitz brand, as well as Pabst Blue Ribbon, Old Milwaukee, and Colt 45.[30][31]. For the last century, we have protected and preserved our land. Members of the Uihlein dynasty are pouring millions into opposite sides of one of this years most important elections. Back in Wisconsin, Carroll said, Marie Uihlein, widow of former Schlitz president and chairman Erwin "Ike" Uihlein, who died in 1968, had realized she was entitled to a seat on the SMR board. Republican holdouts have the power to stop them, the ads intone, (Pelosi & Co.?) Brewer's Guardian: Dec.-Jan. 2008, Milwaukee brewery workers went on a 76-day strike, List of defunct breweries in the United States, What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me), "Schlitz returns, drums up nostalgic drinkers", "Pabst Brewing Company Completes Sale To Blue Ribbon Holdings", "Pabst Brewing Co sale finalised as Eugene Kashper, TSG take reins", "How Milwaukee's Famous Beer Became Infamous", "Political Revolution, Emigration, and Establishing a Regional Player in Brewing: August Krug and Joseph Schlitz", Dictionary of Wisconsin History: August Uihlein, "70 years of the Brown Bottle in Milwaukee", "Milwaukee Notebook: The sweet smell of disaster", "Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co.: A Chronological History 19331969", "Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co.: A Chronological History 19691982", "To Much Gusto: The Failed Schlitz Beer Commercials", Schlitz, with original recipe, returning to Milwaukee, "Pin-up still turns heads with beer campaign | Toledo Newspaper", "Pabst: We Will Remain an American Company", Collection of mid-twentieth century advertising featuring Schlitz beer, Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, Brew House, Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, Stock House, Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, Bottling House, Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, Power Plant, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joseph_Schlitz_Brewing_Company&oldid=1150528111, "When you're out of Schlitz, you're out of beer", This page was last edited on 18 April 2023, at 17:50. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Since the early 1900s, the Uihlein family, one of the original owners of the Schlitz Brewery, has owned the property. He and his wife have given more than $120 million in recent years to pro-Trump candidates and conservative causes. Uihlein Family History (The Milwaukee Brewing Family) What would the Jos. That would potentially allow progressives to legalise abortion, push back extreme Republican gerrymandering in the drawing of electoral maps and resist any election-denying challenges in next years presidential battle. Thank you for visiting uihlein family tree milwaukee page. Schlitz beer got its start in 1848 in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, tavern brewery owned by August Krug. [5], Schlitz incorporated in 1873, and the Uihlein family (of the Krug line) took over control of the company after Schlitzs death in a shipwreck in 1875. [9] Schlitz was further hurt by the rise of high-volume light beers such as Miller Lite and Bud Light, a direction Schlitz did not aggressively pursue although James Coburn appeared in commercials for the short-lived Schlitz Light in 1976. In 1856, he took over management of the brewery following the death of Krug. Robert August Uihlein Jr. (the family name is pronounced EEline) was born in Milwaukee on March 26, 1916. Lakewood Ranch: How a town was born - Sarasota Herald-Tribune