Dick Leinenkugel
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dick" Leinenkugel (born 1958 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin) is an American
politician
and businessman in the State of Wisconsin. He as the Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce
, and was vice president of sales and marketing for the Chippewa Falls Beer Company
, which is a subsidiary of MillerCoors
LLC. He was also group manager for specialty and craft brands of Miller Brewing Company
. In 2010, he briefly ran for the United States Senate in 2010
against incumbent Russ Feingold
.
, the fourth of five children. As a teenager, Leinenkugel started in his family’s beer business, giving tours at the Leinenkugels brewery.
Leinenkugel graduated from Chippewa Falls High School
in 1976, and attended and graduated magna cum laude from Marquette University with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He also served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer.
Leinenkugel was deployed twice on Naval amphibious ships as part of a Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU), leading 39 Marines as a supply officer and holding a 30-day inventory supply for a Marines battalion. Serving in The Philippines, Australia
, Malaysia, Singapore
, Hong Kong
and Korea
, he also trained and conducted amphibious operations in the Western Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean
including Somalia
and Oman
. After serving in the Marines, Leinenkugel was elected to the Waukeshaw County Board of Supervisors
for a three-year term.
Leinenkugel married Jean Kunz in 1984, with whom he has three children.
Jim Doyle
appointed Leinenkugel as the Secretary of the Department of Commerce
. He resigned from the position effective April 9, 2010, to pursue a new opportunity.
, Democrat
Russ Feingold
in the 2010 United States Senate Election. Although Leinenkugel had name recognition from his family's beer business, he was quickly criticized for serving 18 months in the administration of Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle
, a Democrat. He withdrew from the race in May 2010, and endorsed the eventual winner of the election, Republican Ron Johnson.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and businessman in the State of Wisconsin. He as the Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
The Wisconsin Department of Commerce was a department in the executive branch of the Government of Wisconsin. It was responsible for implementing and overseeing the economic development programs for Wisconsin through consultation, technical assistance, and relocation assistance...
, and was vice president of sales and marketing for the Chippewa Falls Beer Company
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 13,661 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa County....
, which is a subsidiary of MillerCoors
MillerCoors
MillerCoors is a joint venture between SABMiller and Molson Coors Brewing Company, announced on October 9, 2007. The joint venture has the responsibility of selling brands such as Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Miller Genuine Draft, Coors, Coors Light, Molson Canadian, and Blue Moon in the United...
LLC. He was also group manager for specialty and craft brands of Miller Brewing Company
Miller Brewing Company
The Miller Brewing Company is an American beer brewing company owned by the United Kingdom-based SABMiller. Its regional headquarters are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the company has brewing facilities in Albany, Georgia; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; Eden, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas;...
. In 2010, he briefly ran for the United States Senate in 2010
United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Russ Feingold ran for re-election to a fourth term, but was defeated by political newcomer Republican Ron Johnson.- Candidates :On the ballot...
against incumbent Russ Feingold
Russ Feingold
Russell Dana "Russ" Feingold is an American politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. He served as a Democratic party member of the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2011. From 1983 to 1993, Feingold was a Wisconsin State Senator representing the 27th District.He is a recipient of the John F...
.
Family and early career
Leinkenkugel was born in 1958 in Chippewa Falls, WisconsinChippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 13,661 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa County....
, the fourth of five children. As a teenager, Leinenkugel started in his family’s beer business, giving tours at the Leinenkugels brewery.
Leinenkugel graduated from Chippewa Falls High School
Chippewa Falls High School
Chippewa Falls High School is a public high school located in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. It is also referred to as "Chi-Hi". Chi-Hi has been among the top in the state when it comes to academics. The school is also known for its athletics and marching band. The school belongs to the Big Rivers...
in 1976, and attended and graduated magna cum laude from Marquette University with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He also served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer.
Leinenkugel was deployed twice on Naval amphibious ships as part of a Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU), leading 39 Marines as a supply officer and holding a 30-day inventory supply for a Marines battalion. Serving in The Philippines, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Malaysia, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, he also trained and conducted amphibious operations in the Western Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
including Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
and Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
. After serving in the Marines, Leinenkugel was elected to the Waukeshaw County Board of Supervisors
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2008, the population was 380,629. Its county seat is Waukesha.-History:The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County now occupies was a part of Michigan when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834. On July 4, 1836, the...
for a three-year term.
Leinenkugel married Jean Kunz in 1984, with whom he has three children.
Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce nomination
On September 5, 2008, Governor of WisconsinGovernor of Wisconsin
The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
Jim Doyle
Jim Doyle
James Edward "Jim" Doyle is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He was the 44th Governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent; the Libertarian Party candidate Ed...
appointed Leinenkugel as the Secretary of the Department of Commerce
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
The Wisconsin Department of Commerce was a department in the executive branch of the Government of Wisconsin. It was responsible for implementing and overseeing the economic development programs for Wisconsin through consultation, technical assistance, and relocation assistance...
. He resigned from the position effective April 9, 2010, to pursue a new opportunity.
United States Senate race
In April 2010, Leinenkugel declared his short-lived candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat held by the Incumbent SenatorUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Russ Feingold
Russ Feingold
Russell Dana "Russ" Feingold is an American politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. He served as a Democratic party member of the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2011. From 1983 to 1993, Feingold was a Wisconsin State Senator representing the 27th District.He is a recipient of the John F...
in the 2010 United States Senate Election. Although Leinenkugel had name recognition from his family's beer business, he was quickly criticized for serving 18 months in the administration of Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle
Jim Doyle
James Edward "Jim" Doyle is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He was the 44th Governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent; the Libertarian Party candidate Ed...
, a Democrat. He withdrew from the race in May 2010, and endorsed the eventual winner of the election, Republican Ron Johnson.