Helen McKinney

Executive Director

Helen E McKinney is an Oldham County, KY native and direct descendant of Samuel Boone, Daniel and Squire Boone, Jr.’s older brother. Samuel, along with Daniel and other family members, established Boone’s Station in Athens, Fayette County, KY on Christmas Day in 1799 in two feet of snow. Younger brother Squire, Jr. was attempting to settle his Painted Stone Station in what is now Shelby County, KY at the same time. Since then, each generation of her family has lived in Clark County, KY until 1937 when her grandparents moved to Oldham County. She is an active member of The Boone Society, the Kentucky Historical Society, the Painted Stone Settlers, Inc. and honored to be a Kentucky Colonel.

As a double major, she earned a BA in History and a BA in English at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. Having been a freelance writer for 20+ years, she has combined the two interests to interweave them into a career that has been filled with writing, research, genealogy and all things history. She has a background in the museum field based upon previous job experience. Helen has been published as a featured writer in Kentucky Monthly, Shelby Life, the Sentinel News, The Oldham Era, the RoundAbout Newspaper (20+ years), Crestwood Neighbors, and Goldenseal Magazine, a magazine of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History.

A love for genealogy, a life-long quest to explore her ancestors and their lives, and a dive into what really rests within our DNA, keeps history exciting and makes it come alive for her. As a re-enactor of the 18th century lifestyle on the Kentucky frontier, she has had the chance to experience what her ancestors found when they discovered Kentucky.

Danielle Wade

Junior Historical Society Director & Summer History Camp Director

Danielle (Lovejoy) Wade is a Shelbyville native who grew up loving history. She joined the SCHS Board of Directors in 2025, also accepting the role of Junior Historical Society Director to get this much needed Junior Historian program up and going again. Danielle graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s of Communications degree and from Bellarmine University with a Master of Arts in Teaching. While teaching 5th grade for 6 years at Painted Stone Elementary, she fell in love with teaching history.

Danielle serves on the Shelby County Public Library Board of Directors, and is a graduate of the 2013 Leadership Shelby program. She is very excited to bring the Jr. Historical Society program to the youth of Shelby County through school clubs as well as through History Camp. She lives in Shelbyville with her husband, Matt Wade, and their two children, Harrison and Harper. In her free time, she enjoys painting and going to the dog park with her two golden retrievers.

Trace Kirkwood

President

Trace Kirkwood is a trained historian who earned a Master of Arts degree from Western Kentucky University. He also holds undergraduate degrees in history and political science. Many recognize him from his time as Shelbyville’s Historic District Coordinator.

He has worked as an archivist and records manager for the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives. While there he was the West Kentucky Regional administer for the Local Records Program. He also worked as a research historian for a consulting firm in Lexington. He is currently employed by HF Group in the Government Records Preservation Division as a Document Restoration Specialist. Through his various professional positions, Trace has stepped inside every courthouse in all 120 counties in Kentucky.

In the early years of his career, Trace was the assistant curator of Special Collections at the Filson Historical Society where he cataloged several of their great collections. In that role he was able to handle the papers of Don Carlos Buell, Henry Watterson, Barry Bingham Sr., and early settlers of the Louisville area such as the Beall family.

Sarahbeth Chatham Farabee

Vice President/Program Planner

Sarahbeth is a proud native of Shelbyville and Shelby County, having graduated from Shelbyville High School and Georgetown (KY) College. She has an additional 12 hours of education in Library Science, with a professional background in Social Work, Education and Library Science. She has served as a social worker in foster care and adoption, a preschool teacher for children with disabilities, a Family Resource Coordinator for the Shelby County School System, and director of Youth Services for the Shelby County Public Library. She is the proud mother of 3 adult children and 3 grandchildren. Sarahbeth is a singer (soloist), supporter of the ARTS, and a newly elected elder at First Christian Church of Shelbyville. She currently serves as the part-time genealogist for the Shelby County Public Library and is the Regent of the Isaac Shelby Chapter of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).

Having served on the Shelby County Historical Society board for many years (she is a former President and now serves on the Museum, Membership and Countdown to USA250! Committees), Sarahbeth fervently believes that the Society is the organization on the “front lines” regarding honoring and saving the history of Shelby County. She feels it is extremely important to know our history and preserve it for future generations. “We have a very interesting pioneer history, with a connection to the Boones and other pioneer families who contributed to many generations of those who helped build our county and all the communities in it. History is a “living thing”, not a musty, old bore. History is foremost, people and their lives and experiences.”

Belinda Nichols

Treasurer

Belinda Nichols has been a life-long resident of Shelby County. She and her husband, Les, live in Bagdad, Kentucky. She is a member of Shelby Christian Church and has had a long career in banking. She is currently treasurer for the Shelby County Historical Society, treasurer for the Shelby County Park Foundation and is the 2025 County Chairman for Kosair for Kids. Belinda has previously served on many additional boards in our community, and continues to do so. She has one daughter, Lynsey, son-in-law Josh, and a new grandson Baker.

Julie Mulcahy

Secretary

Julie has been a resident of Shelby County since 1982. She earned a BS degree in Dietetics from the University of Kentucky and a MS degree in Clinical Nutrition, also from the University of Kentucky. As a result of her career as a Registered Dietitian, Julie has spent 41 years in the clinical healthcare field. She sits on several committees and has been Secretary of the Shelby County Historical Society over 15 years.

She is also an active member of the First Christian Church Shelbyville (Disciples of Christ), and a member of the Shelbyville Historic District Commission. An old house afficionado, Julie has lovingly had a hand in restoring and respectfully updating four period homes. Her love of history stems from the fact that, “I was the teen interested in history and genealogy that the old aunts and grandparents shared their pictures and stories with.”

Bonnie Burks Gray

Bonnie Burks Gray is a native of LaRue County, KY, a retired journalist, an active community “pot stirrer”, a practicing Centenary United Methodist Church member, a member of CUMC’s small group, the Redwoods, Sunday School teacher for the Friendship Class, and a Friend of Grove Hill Cemetery. She likes to think of herself as William ‘Whitie’ Gray’s favorite encourager and troublemaker. Bonnie and White are parents to Leeta and Patrick Kennedy and Alisha and Adriel Gray, and pets Cokie Roberts and Norah O’Donnell Gray. “I’m a thankful SCHS member of decades, humbly serving as a member of the board and on a few committees.”

John Graham

Enjoying what is year 80. Ann and I are raising a new golden retriever, Ginger. Ginger and I have long daily walks on the many nearby paved and unpaved trails. We both love water, from marshlands to turbulent streams. I am finishing a children’s story on Simpsonville’s Elijah P. Marrs—his untold story is about to be published. Carol Franks and Ann Graham are my editors. One grandson is on a schooltrip to Ephesus, Macedonia, Santorini and other Aegean Islands. He reports the food is delicious and inexpensive. Our other grandson is making YouTube comedy for TikTok & waiting tables at Repeals. Daughter Hannah is teaching at the Village School for 2025-26.  Daughter Corinna is starting her 28th year as a Jefferson County social worker. The Red Rover app is already delivering substitute teaching assignments to me for August and September.

Dr. Leon Mooneyhan

Dr. Leon Mooneyhan is currently retired, having served in educational organizations for fifty-three years. His roles included teacher, project grant director, assistant superintendent, superintendent and educational cooperative CEO. He received a BS in Education from Middle Tennessee State University with certification as a teacher. He has an M.ED., also from Middle Tennessee State University, and Ph.D. from George Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University. Both degrees are in education administration. Dr. Mooneyhan served sixteen years as superintendent of Shelby County Public Schools and eighteen years as Chief Executive Officer of the Ohio Valley Education Cooperative in Shelbyville, which serves fifteen school districts including Jefferson County Public Schools.

In retirement, besides serving as a Board Member of the Shelby County Historical Society, Dr. Mooneyhan is involved with several organizations as a board member or officer.  Those organizations include: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Lincoln Heritage Council of Scouting America, the University of Louisville College of Education Dean’s Advisory Committee, Shelby County Community Foundation (Community Foundation of Louisville), Kosair for Kids, Character and Fitness Committee of the Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions, and the Shelbyville Rotary Club.

Heather Cecil

Heather Cecil is a Procurement professional in the distilled spirits industry, having graduated from Midway University with a degree in Business Administration. As a part-time staff writer for Shelby County Life magazine, Heather applies storytelling techniques to her historically focused articles. On a Saturday morning during the fair-weather months, you will likely find her at the cemetery, cleaning and preserving headstones with the Friends of Grove Hill Cemetery. Heather has been a member of the Shelby County Historical Society since 2017, serving as the Vice-President in 2020. She is the chair of the museum committee, participates on the digitization committee, and is happy to help wherever else she is needed. Heather and her family reside in the historic district of Shelbyville.

Kenny Harris

Kenneth “Kenny” L. Harris is a native of Shelbyville, KY and the son of the late Kenneth, Sr. and Natholee Harris. He is a 1979 graduate of Shelby County High School. He also attended Western Kentucky University where he studied Business Management.

Kenny is employed by Lowes of Shelbyville as an MST Associate on the merchandising service team. He has worked mostly in sales and management throughout his career.

He is a life-long member of Clay Street Baptist Church where he sings in both the Legacy choir and the Men of Clay choir. He is the chairman of the Trustee Board for the church and an advisory board member of the Marnel C. Moorman Family Life Center. He also serves as a board member on the following community boards: Shelbyville Housing Authority and Calvary Cemetery Board.

Kenny married his high school sweetheart, Janice “Watson” Harris and they have been married for 33 years. Although they do not have kids, they thank God for being God parents and have nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews who they love and cherish.

Kenny loves serving on the Shelby County Historical Society Board.

Jon E. Park

Deputy Judge Executive, Shelby County, KY

Jon was appointed Deputy Judge Executive of Shelby County by Judge Executive Dan Ison in August of 2020. He previously served Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Governor Matt Bevin, as Executive Director of Constituent Services for both offices. He was previously appointed to the Historic Properties Advisory Commission, Kentucky Heritage Council, oversaw the Kentucky Colonels appointments from the Governor’s Office, and was appointed to be Chairman of the Kentucky America’s Independence Semiquincentennial Commission.

Jon attended Southwest University and took classes at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He and his wife, Tracey, live in Mount Eden, KY. They are parents to four children and have seven grandchildren. Locally, he has served as Chair of the Gold Star Families Memorial Committee to bring a Gold Star Memorial to Veterans Park in Shelbyville. He has a love of American History, is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a student of Abraham Lincoln.