In fact, there are conflicting reports as to whether he was ever in the Army at all.

He was a “Kentucky Colonel” – kind of like a knight in today’s Order of the British Empire (think Sir Elton John or Sir Paul McCartney vs. Sir Galahad.)

It’s an honorary title that the governor of Kentucky can bestow upon citizens who “make exceptional efforts to enrich the lives of Kentuckians and the world at large.”

Other notable Kentucky Colonels:

  • Bill Clinton
  • John Glen
  • Pope John Paul II
  • Dave Thomas (the Wendy’s guy)

Most Kentucky Colonels don’t actively use the the title- it’s more of a plaque on the wall kind of thing, but Colonel Sanders made the decision to do so.

Some KFC trivia- Colonel Sanders retired when he was 65, took his first Social Security check ($105) and used it to start franchising his restaurants. Before that it was just the Colonel and his restaurant in Kentucky- a version of which still stands today.

He was born in 1890 and died in 1980. I imagine that was a pretty amazing time span to be alive. To grow up without cars, see 2 world wars, and still be around for the beginning of the computer age. Born during the Benjamin Harrison administration, died during the Regan administration.

Source: A show about fast food on the Travel channel, and wiki and the official KFC and Corbin Kentucky Visitor’s Guide sites for the assit.

(TV said he was never in the army at all, but wiki says he was- but served in Cuba? Peacekeeping post Spanish American war?)