Editing Colonel (section)

==Other uses of colonel ranks==
{{Further|Colonel (disambiguation)}}

The term ''colonel'' is also used as a title for auctioneers in the United States; there are a variety of theories or [[folk etymologies]] to explain the use of the term.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7p9HAQAAIAAJ&q=auctioneer+colonel|title=The auction companion|first1=Daniel J.|last1=Leab|first2=Katharine Kyes|last2=Leab|date=29 December 1981|publisher=Harper & Row|isbn=9780060125561|via=Google Books}}</ref> One of these is the claim that during the [[American Civil War]] goods seized by armies were sold at auction by the colonel of the division.<ref name="Doyle">{{Citation
 | last1 = Doyle
 | first1 = Robert A.
 | last2 = Baska
 | first2 = Steve
 | title = History of Auctions: From ancient Rome to todays high-tech auctions
 | journal = Auctioneer
 | date = November 2002
 | access-date = 2008-06-22
 | url = http://www.auctioneersfoundation.org/news_detail.php?id=5094
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080517071614/http://auctioneersfoundation.org/news_detail.php?id=5094 |archive-date = May 17, 2008}}</ref>

[[Kentucky colonel]] is the highest title of honor bestowed by the [[Commonwealth of Kentucky]]. Commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the Governor and the Secretary of State to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation. This is the equivalent to a full colonel in the militia. The sitting governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky bestows the honor of a colonel's Commission, by issuance of letters patent. Perhaps the best known Kentucky colonel is [[Colonel Sanders|Harland Sanders]] of ''[[KFC|Kentucky Fried Chicken]]'' fame.

The rank of colonel is also used by some police forces and paramilitary organizations.