So What Is It About Shelbyville, Indiana?

There must be something in the water in Shelbyville, Indiana. Although the city, located 25 miles southeast of Indianapolis, has just 18,000 residents, it was the home to two Guinness world-record holders.

Edna Parker, the world's oldest person at 115, lived in Shelbyville until she died on Tuesday, November 25, 2008. Parker was born April 20, 1893 and had lived alone for 70 years after her husband, Earl, died in 1938.

Sandy Allen, the world's tallest woman at 7' 7 1/4", was also a resident of Shelbyville until her death on August 18, 2008. In 1975 Allen, pictured at right in an Indianapolis Star photo from 1974, was given the world's tallest woman status by the Guinness Book of World Records. She was 53 years-old at her death.

Both Parker and Allen were residents of the same facility, Heritage House Convalescent Center.