The military rank of colonel is the second-highest field rank below General. As a result of the word being borrowed from Middle French, it is spelt colonel but pronounced kernel. However, they are both acceptable pronunciations in the Canadian army.
The U.S. state of Kentucky has a long-standing tradition of giving out honorary colonelships; at its inception a military group, the Honourable Society of Kentucky colonels became a charitable organization, organizing society events and otherwise raising money for Kentucky.
The most famous Kentucky Colonel is Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken and its corporate spokesperson until his death in 1980. Among his numerous contributions to chicken frying was the pioneering use of a pressure fryer, allowing him to fry chicken at a then-unprecedented rate.
Sanders chose to be known simply as 'Colonel', and dressed as a stereotypical Southern gentleman. Most other honorary colonels prefer to be less overt.
Another fast-food icon with an honorary colonelship is Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers.
Other honorary Kentucky colonels include:
Three US presidents (Johnson, Reagan, Clinton) and one prime minister of the UK (Churchill)
One heavyweight champion of the world (Ali)
One pope (Jean Paul II)
One owner of Duncan Hines cake mixes (Duncan Hines)
