A Henderson, Kentucky, native, Ronald Sheffer grew up there and graduated from Henderson High School, after which he attended Western Kentucky University on a football scholarship. A quarterback in football, he also played third base and outfielder in baseball. Always popular with classmates, Ronnie was elected president of the WKU Student Body, as well as president of the Congress Debating Club, History Club, “W” Club (for letterman in all sports), and his senior class. In addition, he was named a Distinguished Military Graduate. Ronnie returned to his alma mater to serve on the Board of Regents for a total of fourteen years and was twice asked to assist in selecting a new president.
Following college graduation, Ronnie married Anne Shaver, his high school and college girlfriend. Two months later he received orders from the United States Army to report to Fort Benning, Georgia, followed by an assignment at Fort Hood, Texas. His last tour was in Vietnam where he was assigned to a Vietnamese Infantry Battalion. For his service in Vietnam, Ronnie was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and 2 Bronze Stars for Valor. Although he had no reserve obligation, the Pentagon commanded him to spend two weeks with the Ohio National Guard relating his experiences and answering troops’ questions about his service in Vietnam.
After four years of active duty with the United States Army, Ronnie taught high school government at Henderson High School, while serving as assistant coach in football, basketball, and baseball. With the support of Anne and the G.I. bill, he put his longtime plan in action and attended law school at the University of Kentucky, where he was a member of the Moot Court Board. Having two young sons, Ronnie worked as a law clerk in Lexington and officiated high school football and basketball games. Anne taught English and French while earning a master’s degree at U.K.
During his first years of practice Ronnie was a criminal prosecutor. In 1982 he started his own firm, becoming senior partner of an enterprise that expanded across 8 cities in Kentucky and southern Indiana. Currently, he is a partner with Phillip Monhollen and Claude Tackett in the Louisville firm of Sheffer Monhollen & Tackett, PLLC, with a statewide litigation practice.
A trial lawyer, Ronnie’s primary work is in defense of physician, hospital, assisted living, including skilled and long-term-care cases. However, he has also represented the Kentucky State Police in consequential civil lawsuits; General Motors in major employment cases; Nashville-Davidson County in a multi-million-dollar environmental case; thoroughbred racing’s leading jockeys in a federal court action for their First Amendment right to wear logos on their breeches; coal companies in multi-million-dollar cases; lawyers, bankers, and businessmen in white-collar criminal defense cases; and defendants in major criminal cases, resulting in over 100 jury trials.
Recognized as a highly effective and accomplished trial lawyer, Ronnie has been a featured speaker at regional and state conferences for physicians and corresponding meetings for trial attorneys.
Ronnie holds an AV Pre-eminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Yet again (2023) he was named to Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, a recognition bestowed to only 5% of lawyers in the United States. Ron is licensed to practice in the state courts of Kentucky, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th and 7th Circuits and the United States Supreme Court.
Ronnie has been a lifelong enthusiastic supporter of the Boston Red Sox, attending at least one game at Fenway Park for the past 20 years (except for 2020) and one game of every World Series the Red Sox have played in since 2004. An avid fan, he enjoys sports on the college and national levels, fly fishing in Idaho, and thoroughbred horse racing. Until December of 2020, Anne and Ronnie bred and raced thoroughbred horses.
Ronnie and Anne live in Louisville. They have three grown children who also live in the Louisville area, plus seven grandchildren.