Legal Content Disclaimer – Independence from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Inc.

Authority of the Author and Basis in Facts, Records, and the Public Domain

All content presented on this Website is authored, approved, curated, and/or sourced by Col. David J. Wright or submitted independently by individuals belonging to the Kentucky Colonel Class. The Website presents:

• Fascinating facts and fiction about the history and origins of the Kentucky Colonel (title, commission and person) and the broader Kentucky Colonelcy (official and unofficial duties of the office);

• Research drawn from public records, state archives, historical newspapers, books, and other primary sources;

• Copyrighted materials from the Public Domain (95 years or older), published news articles and, where applicable, Creative Commons and similar open-license resources; and

• Analysis based on state records, court filings, peer-reviewed journals, Internet archives, and documented historical sources (texts) such as those written by historians, found in University Libraries, the Filson Historical Society, and the Kentucky Historical Society ("KHS"); not on corporate marketing propaganda or licensed fictional narratives with commercial intent.

The Website's lead author and webmaster writes as an independent authority on the history and civic meaning of the Kentucky Colonelcy, grounded in verifiable sources accumulated over the past 30 years. The Website is intended to reflect factual, evidence-based history, authoritative consent, and informed commentary. It does not rely on, nor does it endorse, promotional origin stories, myths, or unsupported claims about the creation or ownership of the Kentucky Colonel title.

Trademarks, Generic Terminology, and Compliance with Court Orders

The Website respects the trademarks and service marks claimed by the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels and other entities such as the Eastern Kentucky Colonels (sports teams at EKU) registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and is intended to operate in full compliance with Stipulation 5 of [DE 93], an Agreed Permanent Injunction entered in federal court which is currently under dispute as fraudulently obtained injunctive relief by this website's author and webmaster having introduced the First Kentucky Colonels website in 1998.

Accordingly:

• The Website does not use HOKC’s registered logos, trade dress, or proprietary artwork.

• References to “Kentucky Colonel” and “Kentucky Colonels” are made only in their generic, historical, and descriptive sense, referring to the honorary class of colonels and the title itself.

• Any incidental mention of organizational names or marks is for identification, historical, or comparative purposes and is not intended to suggest source, sponsorship, or endorsement.

To the extent any reader experiences confusion about the difference between the Kentucky Colonel class (honorary title and civic group) and the private corporate identity of the HOKC, this Website expressly takes the position that such confusion arises from the ambiguous, commercial use of the term “Kentucky Colonels” by private organizations—not from this Website’s merely descriptive, generic, or historically grounded use of the term in reference to the class of honorees.

Independent Funding, Creative Works, and Inclusion in Registries and Handbooks

The Author and his Collaborators may offer books, publications, directories, and related creative works for sale, and may accept voluntary contributions and payments from members of the Kentucky Colonel class and the general public in support of this independent research and publishing effort. 

Such funds are intended to support:

• The development and maintenance of this Website and related online resources;

• The creation and publication of original works, including the Kentucky Colonel Registry and the New Kentucky Colonels Handbook and Directory (originally published in 1930); and

• The ongoing documentation of the history, culture, and public service of the Kentucky Colonelcy and those dedicated to upholding the customs and traditions prior to the emergence of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels in 1933.

Any payments, purchases, or contributions made through or in connection with this Website are for the Authors' independent administrative, creative, and educational works only. They are not donations to a formal association or social club, or made on behalf of, the HOKC, Kentucky Colonels Collectibles, Inc., or any other organization that uses “Kentucky Colonels” as a brand.

Inclusion of a name, biography, nomination reason, or other information in the Kentucky Colonel Registry, the Kentucky Colonels Handbook and Directory, or other creative works produced by the Author is an editorial and documentary decision, not an official act of the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any private organization. No purchase or contribution can confer a Kentucky Colonel Commission nomination, create membership in the HOKC, or alter any person’s legal or governmental status under the U.S. Constitution and the laws enacted by the U.S. Congress.

Prospective supporters are encouraged to treat these publications and registries as independent historical resources and documentary works, not as instruments of the HOKC or any other trademark holder.