A Toast(circa 1937)I give you a man dedicated to the good things of life, to
the gentle, the heartfelt things, to good living, and to the kindly rites with
which it is surrounded. In all the clash
of a plangent world he holds firm to his ideal - a gracious existence in that
country of content "where slower clocks strike happier hours". He stands in spirit on a tall-columned
veranda, a hospitable glass in his hand, and he looks over the good and fertile
earth, over ripening fields, over meadows of rippling blue grass. The rounded note of a horn floats through the
fragrant stillness. Afar, the sleek and
shining flanks of a thoroughbred catch the bright sun. The broad door, open wide with welcome... the
slow, soft-spoken word... the familiar step of friendship... all this is his life
and it is good. He brings fair judgment
to sterner things. He is proud in the
traditions of his country, in ways that are settled and true.
In a trying world darkened by hate and
misunderstanding, he is a symbol of those virtues in which men find gallant faith
and of the good men might distill from life.
Here he stands then. In the
finest sense, an epicure... a patriot... a man.
Gentlemen, I give you the Kentucky Colonel.
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Thank you for remembering the Good Works Program in your charitable giving.
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Colonel :
The 1953 Broadway play and 1983 TV Movie "A Case of Libel" was a story from the life Kentucky Colonel Quentin Reynolds of San Franscisco. Col. Reynolds was a war correspondent during WWII and associate editor of Collier's Weekly. Reynolds won the case against a Hearst newspaper columnist and received a $175,001 judgment (the largest ever at that time). We report that bit of history because it was Col. Reynolds who, during a quiet moment at the 1946 Colonels' Derby Eve Banquet, wandered aloud "What the hell is a plangent world?". Basically, plangent means a loud
reverberating sound. A full explanation of this little exercise is in the articles below. Also below, two great offerings from the Emporium.
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The Archives
Col. Marjorie Weaver
 | The 3 ft. x 4 ft plaque in the photo was presented to Gov. A.B. (Happy) Chandler in 1938. It is made of wood with raised gold lettering. We presume it was displayed in the Governor's mansion during Chandler's 1st term in office. The words on the plaque were written by Col. Arthur Kudner of New York as a tribute to Kentucky Colonels. Beginning in 1938 and continuing through 2000, the toast was recited (and printed in the program) at each Derby Eve Colonels' Banquet. Over the years Headquarters has received thousands of requests for copies of the Toast. The words, in their original form, are on the left side of this newsletter (Gender updating was done in later years). The plaque, by the way, is now at Headquarters. |
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The Great Seal
Colonel Hunt Willmott of Kentucky says he and 5 or 6 other Colonels gather frequently "at a local bar" for conversation... he wrote:
"We are very curious, and assume younger members of the Order are
equally curious as to the origins and progression of the Great Seal."
Good question. In the print edition of Pomperoser this fall, we will trace the Seal from
its 1792 beginning. Here's
the short version.Great Seal - 1958
 | From 1932 through 1958, the Seal of the
Commonwealth and the Seal of the Honorable Order were one and the same.
In 1958, the words "Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels" were placed
in a circle pattern around the state
seal. The photo on the right is from the first recorded use of this version. It
appeared embossed on the cover of the 1958 Colonels' Banquet program. A copy
Great Seal - 1979
 | with the familiar serrated edge was used on Headquarters letterhead
shortly thereafter. Although
there was apparently considerable discussion in the background, the
oval shaped seal was introduced with little fanfare in 1979. It was the
first version to include the goldenrod leaves at the bottom. Although it has gone through periods of change, it is virtually the same as the version we use today.
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Colonel Karen
The photo on the left is Colonel Karen Lesnick-Oakes of Florida, winner of one of the two Derby Hat Contests at the Extravaganza. Her prize was a win ticket on every horse in the Derby.
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More History
If the history of the Honorable Order intrigues you, please visit our web site. You'll find enough material to consume most of an evening. A quick link to the site is in the upper left corner of this newsletter. For a thumbnail sketch of our history, a PDF version of a booklet we send all new Colonels is available here.
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Back issues of Pomperoser ARE AVAILABLE BY CLICKING THIS LINK
KENTUCKY
COLONELS and HONORABLE ORDER OF KENTUCKY COLONELS are registered
trademarks.
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