U.S. states honor individuals with various titles. A Kentucky Colonel is a title bestowed by the governor with the most notable being KFC’s Colonel Sanders. Tennessee, New Mexico, and Georgia also award the title of Colonel. Rhode Island bestows the title of Commodore while Texas and Nebraska have the honorary rank of Admiral. In Indiana, a person can become the Sagamore of the Wabash. In other states, individuals become members of special orders such as North Carolina (Long Leaf Pine), South Carolina (Palmetto), and Delaware (First state). Finally, there is the Arkansas Traveler which is only awarded to visitors.
Key Takeaways:
- Knighting is strictly a thing for the UK, but the US has its own interesting “titles” to give out
- One of the more famous is “Colonel” only available for civilians in Kentucky and handed out by the governor
- Commodore, Lieutenant Colonel and Sagamore of the Wabash rank among the more colorful possible titles here in the states.
“Perhaps the most poetic of the high honorary titles awarded by U.S. states is that of the Arkansas Traveler, a name based on a popular folk tale.”
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/sagamore-commodore-colonel-ceremonial-title-honorary