List of Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonel List is non-exhaustive list and enumerates less than 1% of the Kentucky Colonels in the world today.
The most famous Kentucky Colonels are the ones that manage to use their title in their everyday careers and occupations; as well as those that manage to become recognized as "Colonel" among their friends, in business, and among admirers.
Kentucky's Living Legacy (1933-Present)
The Kentucky Colonel commission, bestowed by the Governor, is the highest honor awarded by the Commonwealth. Since 1933, there have been 350,000 to 800,000 individuals recognized, yet the true meaning and historical context of this title has often been obscured.
An Exclusive Showcase: 1 in 1,000 Opportunity
This meticulously curated list features a select group of Kentucky Colonels whose appointments are publicly documented through Wikipedia, news media, or mainstream social media. It represents a mere fraction (one in one thousand) of the total number of commissioned Colonels, highlighting the exclusivity and prestige of this honor.
Be Part of History
Do you hold the esteemed title of Kentucky Colonel? Share your pride and contribute to our ongoing research by submitting your information for inclusion in this list and our upcoming books: "Kentucky Colonels Handbook - 3rd Edition" and "Kentucky Colonels: Forefathers and Founders", scheduled completion dates in 2025 and 2026.
Preserving Privacy and Honoring Legacy
Due to privacy laws, we cannot publish the complete list of all commissioned Kentucky Colonels. This project aims to showcase a diverse and representative sample of individuals who have received this honor.
The Kentucky Colonel List is not a registry, but rather a curated collection of individuals who have publicly embraced their Colonelcy or whose contributions have been recognized in the public and private sectors.
Join the Movement
By participating in this project, you'll help preserve the authentic legacy of the Kentucky Colonel and ensure that future generations understand the true significance of this historic title.
Contact us today to be part of this landmark endeavor!
Submission Instructions
The photo may also contain the geolocation, the camera data, date, time, etc; some of these settings can only be edited using the camera or a photo editing app. You can edit the photo in Google Photos or you can use the Online Image Editor that we use. Adding important indexable meta tags such as the term "Honorable", "Kentucky Colonel", "your full name" and a "description" are highly recommended.
To be considered for this exclusive list, please email us:
A high-resolution portrait-style photograph (800-1600 pixels wide) of yourself holding your commission. The photo must not be previously published on social media.
Your full name as it appears on the commission.
The date you were commissioned.
The name of the Governor who commissioned you.
Alternatively, you can provide a link to a static profile page or a scan of a relevant news article. A discretionary donation of $50-$100 to support our Creative Commons website is requested.
Col. Eddie "Rochester" Anderson
Edmund Lincoln Anderson (1905–1977) was an American comedian and actor. To a generation of early radio and television comedy he was known as "Rochester" on the Jack Benny Show. Kentucky ColonelC
Sandra Chabre
Keith Carson
Joel Caschette
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Travis Otis Floyd
Charlene Faris
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Ricki Landers
Tony LoCoco
Steven Lemming
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Larry D. Murphy, Jr.
Kim Musgrove
John McLaughlin
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Stefan Pieksma
Leonna Prather
Daniel Perea
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Colonel Sanders (Harland David Sanders)
Michael Lawrence Sher
Richard A. Smith
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Frank Zappa