filed for the trademark "Old Kentucky Colonel" to bring back the original Kentucky Colonel brand. Notable Kentucky colonels While there were many notable historic and iconic figures such as Col. Daniel Boone and Col. John Bowman with the title Colonel in Kentucky, none of the original Kentucky colonels (from 1774 to 1815) were from Kentucky until after 1813 when the legislature commissioned Col. Richard Mentor Johnson to form the Kentucky Cavalry in the War of 1812. The first colonel to be born in the Commonwealth of Kentucky was Charles S. Todd in 1815 following his work as Inspector General. Todd went on to became Secretary of State in 1816 at the age of 25 before becoming one of America's diplomats to Russia and Colombia and to be known as Kentucky's Native Son in folklore and social circles. In Kentucky, over 70% of Kentucky's 120 counties and a great number of towns are named after or by a historical civilian company colonel or former militia colonel that received land bounties or purchased land from 1777 to 1865 when the Civil War ended. Originally title of "Colonel" was granted based on purchasing a colonelcy from a governor, earning it through service, being selected to head a militia to form a government or be recognized based on land ownership with a colonel title. Large landholders who were colonels often formed their own colonies in the form of plantations or thoroughbred horse farms. Colonels were known until 1793 to be the only authorized person to appoint a sheriff or designate a justice of the peace, when the colonists voted a colonel had to count the votes. Kentucky colonel nominations Each governor decides the selection process and number of colonelcies that are issued. The process has previously required a nomination from another colonel or direct recognition by the governor but, under the process established by Governor Andy Beshear, nominations and recommendations for other people can be submitted by both Kentucky colonels and members of the general public by completing a form detailing "any active or previous service in a charitable organization or community service and/or any military service", and a statement of the "noteworthy deed" that qualifies them. See also Goodwill Ambassador Arkansas Traveler Colonel (U.S. honorary title) Nebraska Admiral Order of the Long Leaf Pine (of North Carolina) Order of the Palmetto (of South Carolina) Rhode Island Commodore Sagamore of the Wabash (of Indiana)