I finally got this and it was so d%#* simple I want to kick myself.
Use html in the member profile edits and "admin config. ranks". It doesn't matter if html is turned on or off.
Change the word "display" (or whatever word is there) to "decode".
There are 3 places I marked in red below.
members.asp line 432 (so it displays right in members page)
Response.Write ChkString(Members_MemberName,"display") & "</a></span></font></td>" & vbNewLine & _
" <td bgcolor=""" & CColor & """ align=""center""><font face=""" & strDefaultFontFace & """ size=""" & strDefaultFontSize & """ color=""" & strForumFontColor & """>" & ChkString(getMember_Level(Members_MemberTitle, Members_MemberLevel, Members_MemberPosts),"decode") & "</font></td>" & vbNewLine & _
" <td bgcolor=""" & CColor & """ align=""center""><font face=""" & strDefaultFontFace & """ size=""" & strDefaultFontSize & """ color=""" & strForumFontColor & """>"
topic.asp line 588 (for replies)
if strShowRank = 1 or strShowRank = 3 then
Response.Write " <font color=""" & strForumFontColor & """ face=""" & strDefaultFontFace & """ size=""" & strFooterFontSize & """><small>" & ChkString(getMember_Level(Reply_MemberTitle, Reply_MemberLevel, Reply_MemberPosts),"decode") & "</small></font><br />" & vbNewLine
end if
line 797 (for thread starter)
if strShowRank = 1 or strShowRank = 3 then
Response.Write " <font color=""" & strForumFontColor & """ face=""" & strDefaultFontFace & """ size=""" & strFooterFontSize & """><small>" & ChkString(getMember_Level(Member_Title, Member_Level, Member_Posts),"decode") & "</small></font><br />" & vbNewLine
end if