1930 - Elected to membership in the American Bandmasters Association at the group's first convention held in Middletown, Ohio

1939 - Elected President of the American Bandmasters Association at the national convention held in Fort Dodge

1951 - Karl was honored at a surprise testimonial dinner held in Des Moines, Iowa where congressman James Dolliver presided. Governor William Beardsley presented a plaque declaring him the foremost composer of band music and an inspiration to millions of young musicians. Among other gifts, King was presented a Buick Roadmaster automobile from Fort Dodge businessmen and friends, and a pup (a descendant of Lassie) by famed movie producer Jesse Lasky.

1953 - Awarded honorary Ph.D., Doctorate of Music, from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma.

1960 - Presented a medal by the Big Ten band directors at the American Bandmasters Association convention naming him the Big Ten March King

1960 - Directed a world's record massed band of 13,252 musicians at a University of Michigan football half-time show on national television

1962 - Honored with the dedication of the Karl King Viaduct, Fort Dodge's first four lane state highway bridge  (only other directors so honored are John Philip Sousa, Washington D.C., and Albertus L. Myers, Allentown, Pennsylvania)

1962 - Elected to the Academy of Wind and Percussive Arts by the National Band Association

1966 - Awarded a silver medal by the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers

1967 - Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity

1971 - Karl was presented the Edwin Franco Goldman Award by the American School Band Director's Association at his 80th birthday concert on February 21.  The ASBDA rule in their by-laws stipulating this award be given only to school band directors was suspended to allow this award.

1971 - The Fort Dodge Municipal Band was renamed the Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge.

1971 - The Fort Dodge City Square was renamed Karl L. King Memorial Park.

1974 - The Windjammers Unlimited name King to the Circus Music Hall of Fame.

1975 - The Iowa Award, the state's most prestigious honor, was awarded posthumously to King by Governor Robert Ray, making King the sixth recipient of the Iowa Centenial Memorial Foundation.

1980 - February 2 - Installed in the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Conductors

1988 - Elected to the Iowa Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame

1988 - Oleson Park Music Pavilion renamed Karl King Band Shell

1995 - Karl King named to the Circus Ring of Fame in Sarasota, Florida, an honor usually reserved for circus performers (Merle Evans, the only other musician so honored)

2001 - King inducted to the Iowa Walk of Fame in Shenandoah

2005 -