Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Anyone over the age of 18 can become a Kentucky colonel. Traditionally only another Kentucky colonel can nominate someone to become a Kentucky colonel or they can be recognized and selected by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Today under the current governor anyone can make a recommendation, however you cannot recommend yourself. The best way to become a Kentucky Colonel is to know one who is willing to nominate or recommend you.

No, Kentucky colonels can be from anywhere in the world. Currently there are more than 150,000 Kentucky colonels living in more than 70 countries around the world.

The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky can recognize anyone living anywhere in the world based on their deeds, noteworthy actions, or their accomplishments. Generally the governor only recognizes those who demonstrate their deeds or actions in connection with the state, however as an honorary award the governor frequently has been known to recognize those who have the potential to serve the needs of the state through their recognition.

There is some debate as to who the first Kentucky colonel actually was. According to Wikipedia it was Charles Stewart Todd, who was commissioned unilaterally by Governor Isaac Shelby in 1815 as an aide-de-camp on the Governor's Staff with the rank and grade of colonel. Others say it was Richard M. Johnson who was commissioned by the Kentucky Legislature in 1813, almost 2 years earlier. 

Prior to that when 'Kentucke' was still a territory prior to its statehood there was the great Daniel Boone who was commissioned in 1780 when the state was made up of three Virginia counties. There is also Col. John Boman who was commissioned officially days after the Kentucky County was designated by Governor Patrick Henry Jr. of the Colony of Virginia. So if someone asks who the first Kentucky colonel was, Col. Daniel Boone or Col. John Bowman are the best answers. 

It should also be understood that the honorable title of the Kentucky Colonel did not emerge as a civilian award until 1895 under Governor William O'Connell Bradley. As we understand when he was very young when he tried to fight in the Civil War and was removed by his father (twice). Both times, his father removed him from the service because of his young age. Despite having only this few months of service to his credit, he was referred to as "Colonel Bradley" by many for the rest of his life. He used and carried as his moniker "Colonel" to become a page in the Kentucky House of Representatives and gained enough experience to get an honorary law degree from Kentucky University. By the time he became the governor, he knew many colonels (a title of respect in the South) as it was understood in the day that applying the title was a form of address to recognize distinguished and well-respected gentlemen. In his writings he uses it hundreds of times to confer respect to many of his friends and law colleagues.

We could not find any text based citations online of his commissions, they were probably done in person as a gesture of recognition. In 1890 a book was written about Kentucky colonels by Opie Read entitled, A Kentucky Colonel, a book that was very popular in its day. In 1920 a film was made based on the book.  

In the formal sense of protocol, a Kentucky colonel is always addressed or referred to with the title "Honorable" before his or her name inside the state when it is known; outside the state they may use the full title "Kentucky Colonel" before his or her name. Most often among friends and colleagues this is shortened to serve as a moniker or nickname to just "Colonel". 

Since the honorable title is a customary and traditional one it is often used to defer respect and honor, however it should not be used when presenting oneself or another Kentucky colonel as "Colonel" or "Col." to the United States Government, in another state or in another country because it could be confused with the proper official title of a military colonel. The title may be expressed in other places outside of the realm of Kentucky as "Goodwill Ambassador" or "Kentucky Colonel" as a formal title. The style can also be represented as a position in representation of the state as an aide-in-camp following a person's proper name as "Kentucky Colonel", as "Goodwill Ambassador", or most precisely "Ambassador of Goodwill for the Commonwealth of Kentucky".  

As a meritory award and honorable title there are no dutiful obligations connected with being recognized as a Kentucky Colonel. Those who are recognized however are expected to be outstanding citizens and public figures, respectful of others, and law abiding. 

Kentucky colonels are not paid a salary by the state, however many individuals and public figures including actors, athletes, musicians , professionals, and even diplomats who become Kentucky colonels have been known to present themselves as paid speakers promoting Kentucky history, values, traditions, and customs in public and private venues. 

It is also a commission that can be rescinded or revoked based on a person's conduct in society or if it is gained by deception. There are few examples of this occurring, however is not very frequent, as most of those who are recognized truly deserve to be distinguished and carry the recognition with them throughout their lives.  There is a story of how a news reporter once got a commission for a dog he named Waldo Wrecker, his commission was of course revoked when it was discovered he was not a person. 

We estimate that there are currently over 190,000-310,000 Kentucky colonels, living or traveling, telling stories about Old Kentucky in more than 150 civil countries around the world at any given time since 2020. 

There are different ways you can address a Kentucky Colonel in speech and writing style, much like an ambassador or the president of a country it is very important that the protocol be implemented well. If the host knows a person is an Honorable Kentucky Colonel, then they should be known in writing as Hon. Firstname Lastname, Kentucky Colonel or presented as Col. Firstname Lastname. Kentucky colonels that are presented as Colonels should acknowledge their Office of the Honorable Kentucky Colonelcy. 

The most reliable way is with the Kentucky Colonel Registry, a voluntary program developed by Col. David Wright in 1998 online in Berea, it was halted twice due to legal demands and lawsuits filed by the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

With the exception of the registry there is no public database available of all the Kentucky colonels ever created; it is an act that can be granted unilaterally by the governor to members of the public therefore such a database would need to comply with the privacy act. There was a bound register available in 2000 which had the name and date of each person commissioned since 1936.

It is believed that the best source of who is or is not a Kentucky Colonel is the Secretary of State's Office, nonetheless there is no online record for all the titles issued by Governors and their Lieutenants.