[quote=KeepingItReal;671795]
Quote:
Originally Posted by senior citizen
Considering that today is the Kentucky Derby, I've been wondering again waht exactly is a "Kentucky Colonel".....????
As a 61 year native of KY I can say the colonels could be called more of a social group now like members of on elite country club for the adults and has a lot to do with bragging rights even going so far as colonel vanity license plates and other type things. No doubt many years ago it was likely more of an honor but now not so much. It is now for the adults more of an obligation to join and participate in the fund raising that the Honorable Order does which means money is important.
During the year they will donate to a cause or causes and make numerous commercials for radio to publicize it. They do some very good things but make certain everyone knows it as they call it "chest thumping" which doesn't say it is a bad thing but just the way it is.
Kids in high school have received the colonel honor not because of anything they did but because of family connections or someone that knows someone etc. so it tends to make it not so much at all an accomplishment as it may have been in the past.
Anyone that is a colonel can basically get anyone they want the colonel designation so you can see how the numbers grow and who would be most likely to be a member, the website says you must be 18 which may be true currently but I know for a fact this has not always been the case even as far back as the late 60's.
This explains it a little. You can imagine how many of these are being passed out from the cost information below.
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 and 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.[8]
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Really good information...........for which I thank you. She talked about it so much, especially every year at Derby time........I just always wondered how a poor boy, born in Castine Maine who worked his way through school to become a teacher and ultimately superintendent of the Connecticut school system.........would become a Kentucky Colonel. She was much younger and met him while she was teaching school............they later retired to Florida but went every year to the Kentucky Derby...........both deceased now. He was a humble man; I think she was more impressed with this honorary title than he was.