I only knew the GBs names after leaving but I never knew the COs names either nor met them let alone eat a meal or go d2d with any of them. Single females don't get those privileges unless you are a pioneer.
They were venerated in my KHs here in UK. Not just them their voices. A CD with a talk from one of them was practically worshipped.
One occasion when we had no Sunday speaker in Spain (happened a lot so if old Almighty Jah couldn't get someone on a 4 hour flight from UK for this part of the meeting that should never be missed I had serious doubts about his other capabilities) we were going to have the absolute privilege of a GB members talk from a CD. They couldn't get it to work so off to the beach an hour early for everyone. Those were the best Sundays. We all wore bathing costumes under meeting clothes anyway cos we went to the beach after every Sunday meeting anyway.