Kentucky Colonel Commission

The Commission is a document authorized under Common Law, signed by the Governor, the Secretary of State and was adopted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a way to recognize its most honorable and noteworthy citizens, landowners, protagonists and visitors in 1895. Commissioning colonels in Kentucky dates back to 1777 when it became Kentucky County, Virginia on January 1st when Col. John Bowman went to the Transylvania Colony to deliver the news that they were now part of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and to make new colonels under his mandate. The Kentucky Colonel Commission (the document) is letters patent, which is an entitlement tribute to the honor providing special rights, privileges and responsibilities with the title.