Kentucky Colonel
I became a Kentucky Colonel - an honor bestowed by the governor - at an early age. The then Secretary of State, Henry Carter, was from my hometown and was impressed by a watercolor portrait of President Kennedy I had done. My postmaster father had it hanging over his desk. Henry decided to honor me with a colonel's certificate. I rarely used the title until I wrote the book The Kentucky Mint Julep which was penned by "Colonel Joe Nickell." I am occasionally referred to as "Colonel" when I am being interviewed at Kentucky Derby time or when I am making juleps for an office party or the like. (See Mixologist.)
