A Kentucky Colonel is an honorary title bestowed upon citizens (not necessarily KY citizens, although that helps) who have shown merit (of some sort or another) by inspiring recommendation to the Order. Only the current Governor of the Commonwealth has the power to bestow this commission. There are no duties required of a Ky Col., but we (yes, I am a [card-carrying] member!) are expected to be a kind of goodwill ambassador that would reflect well upon the Commonwealth through our words and deeds.
According to the Order's website:
"Many people think of the Kentucky Colonels as a group of people that enjoys the good life, has an enviable social calendar and, during Kentucky Derby week, consumes mint juleps as if they were iced tea. Well, that’s us! But, there is much, much more behind those fancy certificates and The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels’ membership cards that are displayed by deserving individuals world-wide.
The title Kentucky Colonel originated in 1813. The Kentucky Militia had just returned from a highly successful “War of 1812” campaign that resulted in control of the Northwest being returned to the United States. When the militia dispersed, Governor Isaac Shelby asked Charles S. Todd, one of his officers in the campaign, to remain in the capitol and serve as an AID-DE- CAMP on the Governor’s Staff. Todd was given the rank and grade of Colonel.
Early Colonels, such as Colonel Todd, actually served military roles. But, as times changed throughout the1800’s, the title became more of an honorary one. In the closing years of the century, Colonels in uniform would stand as symbolic guards at state events and social functions were held for them at the Governor’s mansion. In the late 1920’s, a group of Colonels started talking about forming a formal “society”. Governor Flem Sampson gave his blessings to the project. “I am for it”, he wrote the organizers. Late one Saturday afternoon in May of 1931, the first meeting of what would eventually become the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels was held in Frankfort, Kentucky."
What I really like about the Order (besides being historic, distinguished-sounding and decidedly old-fashioned in an eccentricly locale-specific kind of way), is that it admits new members vampirically: only an existing Colonel can make YOU a Colonel, they have to recommend you. And that's pretty much all the requirement that there is. Me being a female was no hurdle (as it is in becoming a member of the storied and equally historic Pendennis club, where "decency, decorum, civility, good manners and the social graces are still very much in style"), neither was being a generally under-employed art degree-holding non-professional. Nope! All that was required was a nomination from a Colonel relative of mine, and the next thing I knew I was opening a very official looking document-sized manila envelope post marked from the Governer's office, which contained my Certificate of Colonelship! W-O-W! It hangs in calligraphied glory on my wall.
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