Abbess,
    Christian Orthodox       
Abbot,
    Christian Orthodox        
Accountant        
Acting Official       
Adjutant General     
Admiral         
Admiral, Texas Navy   
Adventist Minister       
Alderman         
Archbishop, Catholic        
Archbishop,
   Christian Orthodox        
Archdeacon, Episcopal        
Archimandrite        
Architect
Archpriest        
Ambassador to the U.S.
   from a foreign country      
Ambassador of the U.S.        
American Indian Chief        
Assemblyman
   U.S., State / or           
   Assemblywoman            
Associate Justice,
   U.S. Supreme Court          
Associate Justice of a
   State Supreme Court
Astronaut      
Attorney         
Attorney General           
Attorney General,
       Assistant   
Attorney, U.S.         
Australian Officials    

Baron, Baroness           
British Officials,
   Royalty, Nobility     
Brother, Catholic         
Brother,
   Christian Orthodox          
Bishop, Catholic            
Bishop,
   Christian Orthodox         
Bishop, Episcopal        
Board Member     
Boy        
Brigadier General       
Business Cards      

Canadian Officials    
Candidate    
Captain,
   USA, USAF, USMC     
Cardinal             
Chairman
    Federal Reserve      
Chairwoman      
Chancellor      
Chaplain in the
    Armed Services        
Chaplain of Congress          
Chargé d’Affaires         
Chief Executive Officer 
Chief Judge          
Chief Justice,
      U.S. Supreme Court 
Chief Justice, of a State
      Supreme Court             
Chief of Police          
Chief of Staff     
Chief Operating
   Officer          
Child            
Chiropractor     
City Manager    
Clergy & Religious
    Officials     
Club Official          
Colonel, Kentucky      
Colonel, USA, USAF,
    or USMC     
Commandant       
Commissioner, Court     
Commissioner         
Commodore of a         
      Yacht Club         
Congressman, U.S.               
Congresswoman, U.S.   
Consul and or
   Consul General    
Consultant      
Corporate Executive         
Councilman
    Councilwoman      
Counselor (Diplomat)      
Countess     
County Officials       
Couples     
Curator        

Dalai Lama          
Deacon         
Dean, academic            
Dean, clergy            
Deceased Persons        
Delegate, U.S., State            
Dentist             
Deputy Chief of Mission      
Deputy Marshal          
Designate, Elect,
    Pro Tempore      
Diplomats      
District Attorney           
Doctor, Chiropractor     
Doctor of Dentistry           
Doctor of Medicine              
Doctor, Military           
Doctor of
   Veterinary Medicine          
Doctor of Osteopathy            
Doctor, Other Disciplines     
Doctorate        
Doctorate, honorary      

Earl            
Elect, Designate
   Pro Tempore      
Emeritus/emerita      
Eminence     
Emperor    
Engineer    
Etiquette    
Excellency           

Family     
Fiancee      
Firefighter    
First, Second,
   Third, etc.        
First Lady, Spouse
   of the President of
   the United States 
First Lady, Member
    of Her   
    White House Staff      
First Lady, Spouse
   of a Governor
   or Lt. Gov.    
First Lieutenant   
Flag Protocol     
Former Officials    
Freeholder       

Gay Couple      
Geshe
General
    USA, USAF, USMC
Girl
Governor General         
Governor, Lieutenant 
Governor, Lt., Spouse   
Governor, Tribal Council          
Governor, U.S. State       
Governor, Former    
Governor
    Spouse of     
Governor's Staff,
    Member of      
Governors, Board of 

High Commissioner    
Honorable, The          
Honorary degrees    
Honourable, The       

Indian Chief         
Inspector General    
Interim Official   
Introductions       
Invitations  
   Writing &  
   Addressing  
Invitations
    Military:
    Writing &
    Addressing

Judge, former     
Judge of US City or
        US Count     
Judge, US Federal            
Junior, Senior,
    I, II, III, etc.       
Justice, Associate
     Federal
     Supreme Court
Justice, Associate
     State
     Supreme Court

King     
Knight      

Late, The
   (deceased persons)        
Lawyer      
Lesbian Couple    
Lieutenant      
Lieutenant Colonel,     
   USA, USAF, USMC          
Lieutenant General,
   USA, USAF, USMC      
Lieutenant Governor         

How to Address a Kentucky Colonel?
[A Colonel Appointed by a Governor of a State]

How to Address a Kentucky Colonel #1?
     Greetings! I just wish to find out if the following is true:
     "In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, commissioned Kentucky Colonels are considered members of the Governor's Staff and his honorary aides-de-camp, and as such are entitled to the style of 'Honorable' as indicated on their commission certificates. The commission and letters patent granted by the Governor and Secretary of State bestowing the title of Kentucky Colonel refers to the honoree as 'Honorable First Name Last Name'."
     I was commissioned by the former Gov. Paul E. Patton in 2003, but it appears that no one knows if it is okay to use the "honorable" title. It would be great if you could clear some clouds for us and I'll submit the finding to the board of our order. Thanks.
           -- Not Colonel Sanders

Hi NCS:
    There are always local rules to which a community abides. As one explores adjacent realms, the protocol rules are those on which the all the adjacent communities mutually agree.
      Like a Texas Admiral, or a Nebraska Admiral, a Kentucky Colonel is an honorary rank used at events sponsored by an organization.  In this case the 'organization' is the Commonwealth of Kentucky -- but it is not a rank used as a basis of precedence outside the organization's realm. The borders of the realm my be metaphorical, but they do not include United States Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps events or the Pentagon, for example.

    If a Kentucky governor declares you to be a Kentucky Colonel you are entitled to be addressed as Honorable (First Name) (Last Name) anywhere the rank is pertinent. Definitely that would be at the Kentucky Derby!
    For Kentucky colonels, it is Honorable rather than The Honorable. I don't know why, but the certificates naming one to be a Kentucky Colonel are made out as simply Honorable (Full Name).

    Outside Kentucky (this is the exploring adjacent realms part), The Honorable is universally used to officially address those who are elected to public office, or who are appointed go their office by The President of the United States and approved by the U.S. Senate.
     So an elected mayor of any city in Kentucky would be officially addressed as The Honorable  inside and outside of Kentucky.  But as a Kentucky Colonel you are not going to be officially addressed as Honorable (Full Name) outside of Kentucky ... say ... in Ohio or Tennessee.

    You write the appointment was to be a member of the Governor's Staff and his honorary aides-de-camp  by a former governor. So what happen when he is out of office?
     The rule is if it's not a one-at-a-time position, you can keep on using the title ... so the form of address would continue for the rest of your life.  

    Many organizations have honorary positions ... many universities give out honorary degrees -- which also fall into the category of personal honors and distinctions.  An honorary doctorate is sort of a doctorate .... but it is not exactly the same thing when you are applying to join a university faculty.
    At The Protocol School of Washington we always laugh that there is no "protocol police" to make sure you are correctly addressed. I predict that those who share your interest in your office, and understand the honor it represents, will honor you and address you as Honorable (Full Name).
            -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Kentucky Colonel #2?
     In regards to the (previous) question of how to address a Kentucky Colonel, the most important information is that while the courtesy title "Honorable" is technically correct (as the person so commissioned is an aide-de-camp to the sitting governor), it is almost never used in written or oral communication. In formal situations, Colonels are simply referred to, and refer to each other, as Colonel or Colonel Name.
     The commission is issued by the sitting Governor, but is a lifetime commission as an honorary member of the Governor's staff regardless of who that Governor is. You are correct that the title is perpetual, but the reason is that the office is perpetual unless revoked.
     There are Kentucky Colonels living in every state and most countries; it is not necessary to be a citizen of Kentucky, and Colonels from "adjacent realms" are of no lesser status or different title than Kentucky citizens. Therefore, I would argue that the title is valid anywhere you go, and it is up to the Colonel to determine in which situations to introduce him or herself as "Colonel" or "Mr./Mrs." Though it is accurate, I do believe it would be in poor taste to ask others to refer to you as "The Honorable" in any situation I can think of.
     The only hard-and-fast rule is to never imply that it is a military rank or that it conveys any rights or privileges other than the respect earned by Colonels who came before.
     I enjoy your blog and have used it as a reference several times. Just wanted to clear up this information, on the chance you were interested.
      Respectfully,
      Colonel Thomas H. Willmott

Dear Colonel Wilmott:
     Thanks for your thoughtful and informative note. 
     I am very interested in hearing more ... so thank you.
     You write: There are Kentucky Colonels from every state and most countries; it is not necessary to be a citizen of Kentucky, and Colonels from "adjacent realms" are of no lesser status or different title than Kentucky citizens. Therefore, I would argue that the title is valid anywhere you go"
     #1)  I had not considered Kentucky Colonels who live in Ohio, Tennessee or Maine!  Glad to know even out-of-state residents are eligible.
     It wasn't 'valid' or 'invalid" I was thinking about ... so much as the relative precedence granted to officials at ceremonies and events:
          Colonel #1: Colonel in the United States Air Force
          Colonel #2: Kentucky Colonel
     (Not all Colonels are equal in precedence.)
     #2)  RE: ''adjacent realms" ... one "head of state" typically honors the officials appointed by another "head of state" in the same way he honors his own officials. E.g., the British monarch grants at British military events an (0-6) Colonel in the US Army the same precedence as an (0-6) Colonel in the British Army. 
     Thus ... would the Governor of Ohio would grant Kentucky Colonels all the courtesies granted Ohio Colonels at Ohio events? Are there are Ohio Colonels?
     It seems that I've learned that Kentucky Colonel is most correctly defined as an "honor" -- like a medal -- similar to the British honour when they make someone a CMG  -- Companion in the Order of St. Michael and St. George.
     .... rather than define it as an 'office or rank' in an military or paramilitary organization with "Majors" and "Sergeants" too.   Right?"
    -- Robert Hickey

Dear Mr. Hickey,
     It's my pleasure to provide this information, and as a Colonel it's my responsibility to be a good ambassador for my state.
     You are correct in your analogy to the British honor; a Colonel's commission is defined as "the highest honor the Commonwealth of Kentucky can bestow." However, a Colonel is considered a member of the Governor's staff, which is why we are entitled to use "The Honorable" as an honorific. There is no rank structure, and no connection to the military, though that wasn't always the case.
     A brief history: In 1813, our first Governor, Isaac Shelby, returned to Kentucky after leading a successful campaign in the War of 1812. The Kentucky Militia disbanded, but Shelby retained one man as his Aide-de-Camp, giving him the rank and pay grade of Colonel, what would now be an O-6. Shelby's successors commissioned additional Colonels as personal guards and to perform other official functions. These uniformed, "paramilitary" uses of the Kentucky Colonels ended around 1920. Today, the only responsibility of a Kentucky Colonel is to be an ambassador of good will and fellowship around the world.
      So, as a Kentucky Colonel is a regular citizen (excepting of course those who are in the armed forces) and a Colonel in the USAF is a military man, there is no basis for comparison when considering precedence. (Although, it would be interesting to know how such a situation would be handled before 1920.) Kentucky Colonels neither ask for nor expect any special treatment or privileges.
      No other state issues Colonel commissions - there are no Ohio Colonels, though there are of course Kentucky Colonels who are residents of Ohio. Only the Governor can choose to issue a commission, based on a formal nomination.
     Colonels have ranged from politicians such as Reagan, Clinton, Bush, and Winston Churchill to entertainers such as Elvis, Jeff Foxworthy, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dwight Yoakam. There are sports figures from Muhammad Ali to Wayne Gretzky to Richard Petty. Even Pope John Paul II was a Kentucky Colonel. Probably the most famous Colonel was Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. And then there's the rest of us, regular Joes who have distinguished themselves through charity work or other contributions to Kentucky and the rest of the world.
     I would certainly contend that, due to the broad nature of the commission, any of these fine folks are entitled to use their honorific at any time or place they deem fit. I can't imagine anyone anywhere referring to "Mr. Sanders" rather than "Colonel Sanders." And we wouldn't be much use as ambassadors for our state without a way to distinguish ourselves! But as I said, I can't imagine any appropriate situation to request anyone ever call me The Honorable... We may be boisterous, ridiculously devoted to our state, and justifiably proud of our heritage, but to ask someone to call you The Honorable, well, that just seems downright pretentious.
     I know this wasn't a very direct answer, but I hope in a roundabout way I was able to address your question. We Kentuckians tend to ramble, and as a technical writer I type faster than I talk.
    Sincerely,
   Colonel Thomas H. Willmott