Ken Behring

Lore & Background

Behring was born in Freeport, Illinois, and grew up in poverty in Monroe, Wisconsin. He worked various jobs from age seven, played high school football, and received a partial football scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison but dropped out due to an injury. He later worked at a car dealership, started Behring Motors at age 21, and by age 27 was earning $50,000 a year with $1 million in assets. He moved to Florida in 1956, founded Behring Construction Company, and developed Tamarac Lakes, which became Tamarac, Florida.

His company became the largest builder of single-family homes in Florida and tenth largest in the U.S. In 1972, he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and developed Blackhawk country club and Canyon Lakes Development. In 1988, Behring and partner Ken Hofmann purchased the Seattle Seahawks from the Nordstrom family for $80 million. After the 1995 season, he attempted to relocate the team to Anaheim but failed due to lease obligations and NFL threats; he sold the team to Paul Allen in 1997 for $200 million.

Behring was listed on the Forbes 400 list in 1991, 1995, and 1997, with an estimated net worth of $495 million in 1997, and was later described as a billionaire. He published a memoir in 2004 and a revised edition in 2013. He married Patricia at age 21 and had five sons, ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren as of 2018. He was involved in founding the Blackhawk Museum in 1988, pledged $20 million to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in 1997, and $80 million to the National Museum of American History in 2000.

He also donated $7.5 million to UC Berkeley in 2000, founded the Wheelchair Foundation in 2000, the WaterLeaders Foundation in 2005, and made a $1.9 million donation to National History Day in 2009. In 2014, he added a Spirit of the Old West exhibit to the Blackhawk Museum. He faced a sexual harassment lawsuit settled out of court in 1996.

Reader's Guide

Ken Behring was a real estate developer and former owner of the Seattle Seahawks. He purchased the team in 1988 with partner Ken Hofmann from the Nordstrom family. He attempted to move the team to Anaheim after the 1995 season but was forced to sell in 1997. He was also a major philanthropist, donating to the Smithsonian, UC Berkeley, and founding the Wheelchair Foundation.

Rags-to-Riches Origins

Kenneth Eugene Behring's journey began in humble circumstances in Freeport, Illinois, before his family relocated to Monroe, Wisconsin. Growing up in poverty, he witnessed his father laboring at a lumber yard for mere cents an hour while his mother cleaned homes. This environment instilled a relentless work ethic; by age seven, Behring was already mowing lawns, caddying, and delivering milk. His entrepreneurial spirit blossomed early when he started selling sporting goods alongside his high school studies.

Although he earned a partial football scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, an injury ended his athletic eligibility and forced him to drop out. Undeterred, he pivoted to automotive sales at twenty-one, launching Behring Motors. His rapid ascent saw him accumulating $1 million in assets by age twenty-seven, setting the stage for a future as one of America's most prominent real estate developers.

Real Estate Empire and NFL Ambitions

Behring transformed his fortune into a massive real estate empire, first establishing Behring Construction Company in Florida. He pioneered the development of Tamarac Lakes, converting wetlands into a thriving community that incorporated as the town of Tamarac. His firm eventually became the largest single-family home builder in Florida and ranked tenth nationally. In 1972, he expanded his operations to California, developing luxury communities like Blackhawk and Canyon Lakes. However, his most high-profile venture was purchasing the Seattle Seahawks in 1988 for $80 million. Legal hurdles regarding stadium leases and NFL threats of massive daily fines forced him to abandon the move. He ultimately sold the franchise to Paul Allen in 1997 for $200 million, ending his tenure as an NFL owner.

Smithsonian Philanthropy and Controversy

Behring's later years were defined by monumental, yet contentious, philanthropic contributions to the Smithsonian Institution. In 1997, he pledged $20 million to the National Museum of Natural History, funding the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals, which opened in 2003 with hundreds of specimens and interactive zones. His generosity expanded in 2000 with an $80 million pledge to the National Museum of American History, intended for exhibits on American legends, the presidency, and military history.

In exchange, the museum's main facility was renamed the Behring Center. While celebrated as a record-breaking cash donation that earned him the James Smithson Award, these gifts sparked significant debate within the museum community. Critics argued that Behring exerted undue influence over exhibition content and criticized his selection of personal architects for modernization studies, raising questions about donor power versus curatorial independence.

Personal Life and Literary Legacy

Beyond his business dealings, Behring maintained a close-knit family life, marrying Patricia at age twenty-one. Together they raised five sons, eventually welcoming ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren into their extended family circle. His personal narrative was further documented through his literary works, reflecting on his journey from poverty to prominence. In 2004, he published 'Road to Purpose,' detailing his quest to bring hope to millions while finding personal meaning. A revised edition titled 'The Road to Leadership' followed in 2013, emphasizing the development of purposeful living. Although often described as a billionaire and frequently listed on Forbes' ranking of America's wealthiest individuals, Behring remained grounded in his Midwestern roots until his passing in June 2019 at the age of ninety-one.