Kentucky Colonel - History

History

The title "Kentucky colonel" was first formalized in 1813, but was in informal use before that to refer to people with honored reputations, often related to military service in the American Revolution. It was often associated with landowners respected in their communities. When the Kentucky Militia was deactivated following the War of 1812, Governor Isaac Shelby commissioned Charles Stewart Todd, one of his officers in the campaign, as an aide-de-camp on the Governor's Staff with the rank and grade of colonel. (Todd married Shelby's youngest daughter two years later.)

Early colonels served military roles in the state. In the latter part of the 19th century, the position took on a more ceremonial function. Colonels in uniform attended functions at the Governor's mansion and stood as symbolic guards at state events. By the late 19th century, the title had become more of an honorary one. But, since commissioned Kentucky colonels are considered members of the Governor's Staff as his honorary aides-de-camp, all are entitled to the style of "Honorable" as indicated on their commission certificates. This is rarely used, however; Kentucky colonels are usually just referred to and addressed as "Colonel". In writing, usage is Kentucky colonel when the term is not being used as a specific title for an individual.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, existing Kentucky colonels began to organize themselves, and the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels was established in 1932.

Prior to 1932, only about 1,000 had received commissions as Kentucky colonels. Governor Ruby Laffoon drastically increased the number of colonels by issuing more than 5,000 commissions during his time in office. When Governor Happy Chandler took office in 1935, he took a much different view on the distinction of a Kentucky colonel commission. Governor Chandler issued only about a dozen new commissions each year at Derby Day. Governor Keen Johnson followed Governor Chandler's lead during his time in office from 1935 to 1943, commissioning only those select individuals that were deemed to have exhibited noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation. The subsequent governors, however, were typically much more liberal in issuing Kentucky colonel commissions.

Under Governor Steve Beshear in 2008, enough commissions were being issued that state budget cuts led to a major change in the design of the commission certificate. The certificate was downsized from the 10 inch by 15 inch size to 8.5 inch by 14 inch. The wording remained the same on the certificate; however, the traditional gold seal and ribbon were be replaced with a state seal that is slightly embossed. The reduced materials needed to create the new certificates were expected to save $5,000; however, the substantial savings was in the labor needed to apply the gold seal and ribbon by hand. The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels objected to the changes in the certificates, and the order offered to pay $5,000 a year to keep the traditional certificates. Due to the substantial savings in labor to produce the new certificates, the Secretary of State's office moved forward with the changes.