Ron Kind - Early Life, Education and Career

Early Life, Education and Career

Kind was born and raised in La Crosse. He is the third of five children born to Greta and Elroy Kind, and belongs to the fifth generation of his family to live in the area. Kind's mother formerly worked as the assistant director of personnel in the La Crosse School District. His father had a 35-year career as a telephone repairman and union leader at the La Crosse Telephone Company.

Kind attended the public schools in La Crosse and became a standout student athlete at Logan High School in both football and basketball. He accepted a scholarship to Harvard College where he graduated with honors in 1985. While attending Harvard, Kind played quarterback on the football team and worked during the summer with Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire in Washington. While working for Proxmire he helped with investigations that helped determine the "winners" of the famous Golden Fleece Awards, presented by the senator to those responsible for government waste.

Kind went on to receive a master's degree from the London School of Economics and a Law Degree from the University of Minnesota Law School. He practiced law for two years at the law firm of Quarles and Brady in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Kind returned to his hometown of La Crosse to become a county prosecutor. He later served as a special prosecutor in numerous counties throughout western Wisconsin.