A Lifetime of Service Honored Cindy VanHorn Awarded the Prestigious Kentucky Colonel Commission

A Lifetime of Service Honored

Cindy VanHorn Awarded the Prestigious Kentucky Colonel Commission

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

There are honors, and then there are honors that speak not just to achievement, but to character. When the Commonwealth of Kentucky bestows its highest title of honor—the Kentucky Colonel—it is recognizing a lifetime of service, integrity, and devotion to others. This distinction is not given lightly. It is reserved for individuals whose lives reflect a deep commitment to community, state, and neighbor. Recently, that honor was proudly awarded to a local woman whose quiet dedication has shaped lives for decades: Cindy VanHorn.

The Kentucky Colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky today. Honorary commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the governor to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments, contributions, and outstanding service to community, state, or nation. Today, the Governor of Kentucky bestows the honor of a colonel's commission through the issuance of letters patent. The commission is a legal act of the Office of the Governor and a lifetime appointment—an enduring symbol of trust, respect, and gratitude from the people of Kentucky.

The roots of this honor run deep. At the time the Kentucky territory was established, the highest civilian and militia officer or authority was none other than the colonel. Because of the time that the commission was granted and the events in the Revolutionary United States and in government, some say the first Kentucky Colonel was Col. Daniel Boone, who was commissioned to build the Wilderness Road by the Transylvania Company circa 1775. Over the centuries, the title has evolved into a modern recognition of service, yet it still carries the weight of history and leadership.

Today, many ordinary citizens are a part of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels (HOKC), as well as famous people who have visited or contributed time, money, or expertise to the Commonwealth. Dolly Parton, Alan Alda, Harry S. Truman, and Diane Sawyer are among many well-known recipients of the Kentucky Colonel honor. To be counted among such company is no small distinction—and for Cindy VanHorn, it is a reflection of a life devoted to giving rather than seeking recognition.

Cindy VanHorn is a lifelong product of Boyd County. She graduated from Boyd County High School, class of 1975, after attending Cannonsburg Elementary from first through eighth grade. Those early years in the community would shape her values, her work ethic, and her deep sense of responsibility to others. They would also plant the seeds for a life spent serving both locally and far beyond county lines.

Professionally, Cindy built a remarkable career in the medical field, one defined by expertise, leadership, and compassion. She served in numerous prestigious roles across the country, including Staff RT at North Beach Medical Center, Lauderdale Medical Group, and North Ridge Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia; Ironton General Hospital in Ironton, Ohio; and Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Ashland, Kentucky. She later served as Staff RDCS at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital and Norton Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.

Her career also included leadership positions such as Director of Echocardiography at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Consultant/Clinical Specialist for Hewlett-Packard medical ultrasound systems research and development in the United States and internationally. Cindy ultimately retired as a Technical Sales Specialist for Philips Medical Systems, a role that allowed her to combine deep clinical knowledge with mentorship and innovation. Even in retirement, she continued serving as a Consultant for Accreditation Echo Labs and as Program Director for the School of Echocardiography at KDMC in Ashland, Kentucky.

Yet while her professional résumé is impressive, those closest to Cindy will tell you that her greatest impact has always been personal. Her sister, Carolyn VanHorn Mayhew, the youngest of four siblings, shared insight into Cindy’s lifelong calling to care for others. “Cindy has worked in the medical field her entire career. She’s in her element taking care and doing for others. Cindy has a giving heart and being the oldest sibling has always looked out for all of us.”

That same instinct—to protect, support, and uplift—has defined Cindy’s involvement in her community. According to the nomination submitted on her behalf to Governor Beshear’s staff of the Kentucky Colonel Program, Cindy VanHorn has contributed so much to her community over her lifetime. She has been a faithful member of Cannonsburg Trinity Church, where she has taught Sunday School, coordinated community events, and served on many committees. For several years, she coordinated a Fitness/Bible Study/Women’s Fellowship group for senior ladies in the Cannonsburg area, creating a space for connection, wellness, and spiritual growth.

Her service extends beyond the church walls. Cindy is currently a faithful, active, and involved member of the School Board for the Boyd County Public Schools. In this role, she has become a strong advocate for all students and their families, seeking to resolve issues that come to her attention and studying on her own time to find ways to improve and expand educational opportunities. Upon learning of the need for playground equipment at the new Cannonsburg Elementary School, Cindy spread the word to individuals and groups in and around Boyd County who might help with fundraising for this important cause—an example of her ability to turn concern into action.

She is also known as a trusted presence among her elderly friends, someone who can be called upon to run errands, provide sound advice, or simply listen. These acts may never make headlines, but they are precisely the kind of quiet service that builds strong communities and lasting trust.

Cindy was nominated for the Kentucky Colonel honor by her lifelong friend, Carol Hatfield Estes, a testament to the impact she has had not only professionally and publicly, but personally. Lifelong friendships, like lifelong service, are built on consistency, compassion, and character.

When notified of her appointment, Cindy received the news with the humility that has long defined her. “I’m grateful and humbled for the acknowledgement. I have known about the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels for many years, so when I received my own appointment as a KY Colonel from Governor Beshear’s office I was very happy. I hope that I can continue to live up to this recognition as I try to serve my community in as many ways as possible.”

Her motivation for service is deeply rooted in her upbringing. Reflecting on what she loves most about being involved in the community, Cindy shared, “I had a mentor while I was in X-ray Technology school, Dr O.R. Roth told me, ‘Don’t forget where you came from’. I grew up in Boyd County, grades one through eight to Cannonsburg Elementary then grades 9-12 to Boyd County High School. I love the people of the community lots of them I’ve known most of my life. My education started here. I want others to have the same opportunities that I’ve had. I ran for School Board to give back to my community.”

That sense of connection to place and people is something Cindy believes is essential to the future of communities everywhere. She speaks candidly about the importance of involvement and shared responsibility. “As I grew up in Cannonsburg during the 1960’s and 70’s, I appreciated my neighbors and friends more than we seem to today. We were welcome in one another’s homes, we knew each other’s needs, and we truly cared for the well being of our community. I believe that can happen again in this day and age, if people would be more willing to reach out, to be involved, to look around and observe how they can help in both big and small ways. A sense of community is something we should all desire.”

Those words capture not only Cindy VanHorn’s philosophy, but the very spirit of the Kentucky Colonel tradition. This honor exists to recognize individuals who embody leadership through service, humility through action, and strength through compassion.

As a member of the Boyd County Board of Education, the Boyd County Foundation for Children, and the Board of Trustees at Cannonsburg Trinity Community Church, Cindy continues to give her time, her voice, and her heart to the people of Boyd County. Her story is not one of sudden achievement, but of steady, faithful commitment—a reminder that true impact is often measured not in accolades, but in lives touched.

The appointment of Cindy VanHorn as a Kentucky Colonel is more than a personal milestone; it is a moment of pride for the entire community. It affirms that the values of service, kindness, and dedication still matter—and that those who quietly live them out are seen and honored.

In recognizing Cindy VanHorn, the Commonwealth of Kentucky honors not only one woman, but the countless acts of care, leadership, and generosity that define her life. Her journey reminds us that the highest honors are earned not by seeking recognition, but by never forgetting where you came from, and always reaching back to lift others along the way.