From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)

James McKinney was appointed to the Auburn, KY City Council in June 1971 and was the first African American elected official in the city. For 43 years he was pastor of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Russellville, KY, retiring in 2007.

McKinney was born in Sugar Grove, KY, the son of Eliza Beason McKinney and Benjamin R. McKinney. He served as president of the NAACP and Human Rights in Logan County, KY.

For more see "36 city officials include mayor, police court judge," in Kentucky Directory of Black Elected Officials [1972] by the Commission on Human Rights, p. 10; McKinney in "Church News," Daily News (Bowling Green, KY), 3/16/2007, Feature section; "The Rev. James O. McKinney," Daily News, 4/25/2008; Updated 3/16/2012, Obituaries section; and "Interview with James O. McKinney," 3/5/1993, at the Pass the Word website.