The Great Seal
The original “logo” of the Honorable Order was modeled after the seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
We reserve use of this mark for special documents and correspondence.
The Great Legend
Former Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels trustee Jim Lindsey is well known for his storytelling prowess. But when it comes to the history of the Great Seal and the Keeper of the Great Seal, General Lindsey can only say, “it’s complicated.”
By General Lindsey’s accounting, most everything we know about the Great Seal begins or ends with, “according to Legend…”
Governor Ruby Laffoon named Charlie Pettijohn, Chief Counsel of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, the first general of the Kentucky Colonels in 1932, and they established bylaws for the organization. Colonel Anna Bell Ward Olsen was appointed as the first secretary and given the task of “organizing” commissioned Colonels into what is today the Honorable Order.
The Great Seal Origin
Colonel Olsen modeled the Great Seal of the Honorable Order after the Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This original seal was lost during the Great Flood of 1937. From this point on, the title “Keeper of the Great Seal” was given to the Secretary of the organization, but the true Great Seal was the one lost in the flood… according to legend.
The haunting question over the years remained “where is the Great Seal?” Nobody seemed to know, so the Honorable Order began to wonder if the Great Seal was still an actual object.
The Oldest Version of The Great Seal
Around 2005, General Jim Lindsey said General Jan Camplin came to the headquarters with what might be the Great Seal at that time. Her father-in-law, Paul Camplin (also a Kentucky Colonel), served on a submarine in the Atlantic during World War II. During his long hours submerged, Paul Camplin hand-carved a 6” wooden replica of the Great Seal. This replica, which is the oldest known version of the seal, is on display at HOKC headquarters. Through further research General Lindsey determined that the title and the responsibility now rested with the Executive Director position.
The Oldest Version of The Great Seal
Around 2005, General Jim Lindsey said General Jan Camplin came to the headquarters with what might be the Great Seal at that time. Her father-in-law, Paul Camplin (also a Kentucky Colonel), served on a submarine in the Atlantic during World War II. During his long hours submerged, Paul Camplin hand-carved a 6” wooden replica of the Great Seal. This replica, which is the oldest known version of the seal, is on display at HOKC headquarters. Through further research General Lindsey determined that the title and the responsibility now rested with the Executive Director position.
Fast forward a few years, and the question of the Great Seal resurfaced.
General Lynn Ashton, who served as Interim Executive Director, said she thought she had the Great Seal, a twenty-pound item being used for a door stop. This “seal” was a large metal device with a handle on it.
Experimenting with the gadget revealed it was a seal embosser, similar to what a notary uses. The design it imprinted was similar to the historical seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The possibility that this gadget was the Great Seal was credible because the governor’s office once sent the commission documents to the HOKC office, where the ribbon and gold seal were affixed.
Today, Executive Director Colonel Sherry Crose holds the title of Keeper of the Great Seal.
And that’s no legend.
Fast forward a few years, and the question of the Great Seal resurfaced.
General Lynn Ashton, who served as Interim Executive Director, said she thought she had the Great Seal, a twenty-pound item being used for a door stop. This “seal” was a large metal device with a handle on it.
Experimenting with the gadget revealed it was a seal embosser, similar to what a notary uses. The design it imprinted was similar to the historical seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The possibility that this gadget was the Great Seal was credible because the governor’s office once sent the commission documents to the HOKC office, where the ribbon and gold seal were affixed.
Today, Executive Director Colonel Sherry Crose holds the title of Keeper of the Great Seal.
And that’s no legend.
