Shelbyville's Henry Feldhaus receives TML's Bob Kirk Local Leadership Award

Since 1981, Councilman Henry Feldhaus III has been a fixture in Shelbyville municipal government, advocating for the development of parks and recreation facilities, revitalizing the city’s riverside district, and bringing new industry and educational opportunities to the community.  

In recognition of his dedication to public service, Feldhaus was awarded the Bob Kirk Local Government Leadership Award on Tuesday, Aug. 5, during the 85th Annual Conference of the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) held at the Chattanooga Convention Center. 

The Bob Kirk Local Government Leadership Award is presented to a council member, alderman, or commissioner who is at least in their second term of service to their municipality and has shown themselves to be an outstanding public servant to both their municipality and their community. The award is named for Dyersburg City Alderman and TML Past President Bob Kirk who served his city for nearly 51 years as an elected official.  

Feldhaus’ service to Shelbyville initially began in 1978 when he was appointed to the Shelbyville Airport Authority. Over the course of 27 years, Feldhaus has served as a councilman representing Ward 1, Shelbyville’s vice mayor and mayor. He was first elected to the city council in 1981, serving until he was elected mayor from 1987 to 1995. Feldhaus returned to elected office as the Ward 1 Councilman in 2012, a position he has held since.  

He also has served on virtually every board and committee associated with Shelbyville’s municipal government in the past 45 years as well as past president of the Shelbyville Rotary Club, a founding member of Leadership Bedford, and as member of the Shelbyville-Bedford County Library Board, Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, and others.  

A key proponent of parks and recreation opportunities, Feldhaus helped create the city’s H.V. Griffin Park and the 142-acre Shelbyville Recreation Center that boasts multiple gyms, craft rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, and numerous other amenities for active and passive recreation activities.  

He was also a major driver in the Riverview District project, which revitalized the area between Shelbyville’s Historic Square and the Duck River. The city purchased blighted and dilapidated properties in the southwest corner of the square for retail redevelopment, seeing the buildings through an RFP process for redevelopment. New developers, investing in excess of $3 million, have created an upscale steakhouse, mercantile stores, and short-term rentals. The city has also facilitated underground utilities with period decorative lighting, increased public parking, string lights to provide atmosphere, a landscaping plan for beautification, seating areas, and a staging area for concerts and special events.           

Feldhaus also enlisted support from local leaders, MTSU, and state officials as well as a TDOT Transportation Alternative Program grant to finance the Riverwalk and Duck River Overlook. The $2.7 million project will connect downtown, the Fly Arts Center, and open the park area bordering the Duck River for numerous opportunities for recreation and entertainment. 

Drawing on his relationships in aviation, Feldhaus was instrumental in relocating the MTSU Aerospace Campus and flight training program to the Shelbyville Municipal Airport. The program is part of a larger expansion of the airport, including a new 50,000-square-foot building and a 28,000-square-foot hangar. Several aircraft have also been relocated to the airport as it continues to grow.  

Other economic and community development initiatives Feldhaus has taken a leadership role in include the creation of the 231 North Business Park that has landed more than $100 million in major industrial investment in the city.  

Perhaps the most notable achievement to date in Councilmember Feldhaus’ storied career is the recent court ruling in the Shelbyville v. Bedford County court case. Shelbyville and Bedford County entered into an agreement where the county would receive a portion of the city’s local option sales tax to assist with retiring school debt in the 1970s. Although the Local Option Sales Tax Agreement should have been retired in the early 1990s, the city’s revenue continues to be channeled to the county.  

Finally, in 2025, primarily due to Councilmember Feldhaus’ knowledge of the situation, his persistence to correct an oversight going for decades, and his expert testimony, the city received a favorable court ruling for the agreement to terminate in 2027. If the Court of Appeals upholds the original ruling as expected, the city will start receiving an additional $2 million annually in local option sales tax revenues. 

Councilman Feldhaus is the eldest of six children of the late Mary Jo Feldhaus and the late Dr. Henry Feldhaus. He graduated from The University of Tennessee in Business Administration majoring in Industrial Management in 1976. He later received his MBA from Middle Tennessee State University in 1999, graduating first in his class and was inducted into the coveted Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.  

He is married to Jenni, who is a CPA and certified financial planner. They currently own and operate Feldhaus Investor Services, where they are SEC licensed financial analysts and stockbrokers. Henry and Jenni have three children - Dr. Jennifer Feldhaus; Dr. LauraAnne Feldhaus Stewart, and Henry Feldhaus IV - and 3 grandchildren. 

The previous recipients of the Bob Kirk Local Leadership Award include former Columbia Vice Mayor Dr. Christa Martin (2018), Jackson Councilman Johnny Dodd (2019), former Franklin Alderwoman Margaret Martin (2021), Germantown Alderwoman Mary Anne Gibson (2022), Collegedale Commissioner Katie Lamb (2023), and Franklin Alderman Clyde Barnhill (2024).