The honorable title prefix and style of "Colonel" is designated legally for various reasons by US governors in common law to citizens, employees, travelers and visitors within their states. The origin
Business card of Harland Sanders, late 1940s; he received the honorary title of "Kentucky Colonel" in 1935 from Governor Ruby Laffoon.
Title of honor
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A title of honor or honorary title is a title bestowed upon individuals or organizations as an award in recognition of their merits.
Colonel (U.S. honorary title)
…people in the South used the title dating back to before the American Revolutionary War, the title was used frequently in all of the Thirteen Colonies. Title of honor Other honorary titles in U.S. states: Arkansas Traveler Delaware title of Order of the First State of Delaware Kentucky Colonel Indiana title of Sagamore…
A U.S. Navy commander giving a hospitalized child his cap, bestowing her the title of "honorary ship's commander for a day"