The Protocol of Service: Why George Mentz is Styled "The Honorable"

The title “The Honorable” is one of the most misunderstood designations in American civic life. While often associated with the halls of Congress or the bench of the Supreme Court, the style is rooted in a specific tradition: the exercise of sovereign trust and quasi-judicial authority.

For George Mentz, the use of this style is not a matter of personal preference, but a reflection of a career spent in high-level service to the public and the law. Here is the foundation for this designation:

1. The Presiding Officer of a Quasi-Judicial Tribunal

In the United States, “The Honorable” is the standard style for any official who has been vetted by a legislative body and entrusted with the power of adjudication. Mentz served as the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission in a major Colorado municipality.

This was not an advisory role; it was a Charter-mandated Office. As Chairman, Mentz presided over a quasi-judicial tribunal that can hear legal appeals, swore in witnesses, and issued binding legal rulings on administrative law. In the American legal tradition, the presiding officer of a tribunal—one whose decisions are reviewable only by a court of law—is addressed as "The Honorable" to reflect the impartiality and gravity of the seat.

2. Presidential and Federal Appointments

The style is further reinforced by Mentz's service at the USA White House/federal level. Mentz has served as a Presidential Appointee to a commission established by Executive Order. In the ecosystem of federal protocol, those who serve in an "Office of Trust" under the authority of the President are frequently accorded this style in recognition of their service to the Republic.

3. Lifetime Retention of Protocol

Under the long-standing American custom of "Once an Honorable, Always an Honorable," officials who have served in high-ranking, confirmed, or presiding roles retain the style for life. This practice ensures that the respect for the office remains, even after the individual has transitioned to the private sector.

A Legacy of Merit

The title “The Honorable” serves as a shorthand for a professional history defined by merit, law, and public service. Whether presiding over a civil service hearing or representing the nation on a federal commission, the style reflects the weight of the responsibilities held and the trust placed in the individual by the government.

The Prefix: "The Honorable" (For Life)

Under U.S. protocol, the title "The Honorable" is a lifetime style for those who have served in high-level, confirmed, or presiding roles.

• The Rule: Because Mentz was a Presiding Officer of a tribunal created by a City Charter and confirmed by a City Council, and elected as chairman of the quasi tribunal that can issue legal opininions, he is entitled to the style "The Honorable" for life.

• On Paper: In a guest list or biography, he would be listed as:

  The Honorable George Mentz

• The Description: To clarify his standing, his title would follow:

  Chairman Emeritus, Civil Service Commission

Additional Disclosures and Notes on International Protocol:

• Mentz is a Hon. Seigneur of Fief Blondel under the laws of the Crown and King of England.

• Mentz has been awarded a patent and commission as a Colonel with the lifetime status as Honorable from the Commonwealth Government KY.

• Mentz has also been awarded the title of Datuk Seri by the Sultan of Kampar and the Riau Government in accordance with ancient Malaysian and Indonesian customs and law for his service to charity and interfaith harmony.

• Mentz is also the Lord of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale in Cumbria which is a 20,000 acre UNESCO Heritage Site.