TIL why Colonel Sanders called himself a Colonel
 

"Actually there's an interesting story behind this. Ever since ancient times, societies that had slavery were very militaristic. Often in slave-holding societies every young man feels he needs to serve in the military, and there is great honor attached to it. This is because slave-holding societies have always lived in desperate fear of slave revolts.

So in the South, before the Civil War, men would often give themselves a title like 'colonel', just as a social title. Successful people with good connections might get an 'honorary' title in the state militia. After the civil war, it remained part of their culture in the South. In fact even today more military recruits come from the South than other parts of the country.

So that's why Colonel Sanders was a Colonel. It went with the white suit, string tie, and goatee, the image of a Southern gentleman."