Annual Awards

The Dallas Genealogical Society annually recognizes individuals and organizations for their contributions towards the goals of the society. These awards are presented annually at our Annual Awards event.

Please take a few minutes and tell us about someone you think is deserving using one of the links below:

The Texas State Genealogical Society recognizes a Volunteer of the Year each year at their annual meeting. Nominations are due by September 15th. Know a DGS member who should be nominated? Please take a few minutes to Tell Us More…


Past Winners

Award of Merit

Presented annually to a DGS member who has consistently contributed time, talent, expertise, and abilities to the Society over a period of years. This member's dedication and hard work in the name of the society usually goes way above the norm. Their contributions stand out.

YearRecipient(s)
2024Todd DeDecker
2023Carolyn Davis
2022Susan Chance-Rainwater
2021Elisabeth "Liz" Kutz
2020No Award Presented
2019Tony Hanson
2018Gloria Goodwin
2017Jean Larson
2016Suzan Younger
2015Sandra Crowley
2014Lynell Bennett Moss & Fred Moss
2013Pat Stone & Jim Stone
2012Liz Thurmond
2011Barbara Ware
2010Don Raney
2009Jeri Steele
2008Shirley Remnant Sloat
2007Tresa Tatyrek
2006Elizabeth Deihl
2005Betty Jean Steinke
2004Gene Burris
2003Shirley Stertz Hawn
2002Carole Ruska
2001Barbara Dossett
2000Karen Avery Miller
1999Arthur H. Rubeck
1998Barbara Roberts Baylis
1997Dorothy Odom Bruce
1996Sammie Townsend Lee
1995Adrienne Bird Jamieson
1994Helen Mason Lu
Heritage Preservation

Presented annually to an individual, group, or organization in recognition of contributions to preserve, conserve, house, or collect family history. Past recipients in this category cover many varying types of genealogical and historical preservation endeavors.

YearRecipient(s)
2024The TXGenWeb Project
2023Family Search Library
2022St Louis Genealogical Society
2021Friends of Oakland Cemetery
2020No Award Presented
2019Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck Records Group
2018DGS African American Genealogy Interest Group
2017Tony Hanson
2016Shirley Sloat & Estelle Mitchell Adams
2015Dallas Jewish Historical Society
2014Dallas Mexican American Historical League
2013UT Southwestern Medical Center Library
2012Mike Hazel
2011Carol Roark, Dallas Public Library
2010Digital Projects Unit at UNT as the developer of The Portal to Texas History
2009AAGIG – McGowan Funeral Home Project
2008No Award Presented
2007General Levi Casey Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
2006Marge Stockton, Ann Williams
2005“Silent Souls Project” – Butler Nelson Cemetery, Jerry Chambers
2004Barbara Ware, Carole C. Ruska, Suzan Younger
2003Francis James
2002City of Dallas, McDermott Foundation, Friends of the Dallas Public Library
2001Shirley Remnant Sloat, Dallas County Records project
2000Preservation Dallas
1999Friends of Fair Park
1998The Genealogical Society of Utah, The Dallas Public Library
1997The Dallas Public Library
1996Dallas County Heritage Society, Old City Park
1995Lois Dillard
1994Jerry Henderson (Black Dallas Remembered)
Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck Distinguished Service Award

Presented to an individual for outstanding contributions to the genealogical community on a national level. The first person to receive this award in 1994 was Lloyd and it was decided then that the award would bear his name.

YearRecipient(s)
2024Drew Smith
2023Ari Wilkins
2022Debbie Parker Wayne
2021Thomas W. Jones
2020No Award Presented
2019Susan Kaufman
2018Kelvin L. Meyers
2017Fred Moss
2016Curt B. Witcher
2015Sammie Townsend Lee
2014Robert Scott Davis
2013Helen Leary
2012Gary Boyd Roberts
2011Brent Holcomb
2010Christine Rose
2009Mic Barnette
2008Joseph C. Anderson
2007John Frederick Dorman
2006No Award Presented
2005Heather Williams
2004John Wylie
2003Marjorie Bays
2002Pat Hatcher
2001Tony Burroughs
2000David Rencher
1999Elizabeth Shown Mills
1998John Philip Colletta
1997George Schweitzer
1996No Award Presented
1995Desmond Walls Allen
1994Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck
Volunteer of the Year

Presented annually to a member who has generously volunteered time, expertise, talents, and abilities to the Society during the previous year to the extent to make that member stand out and draw attention.

YearRecipient(s)
2024Sharon Bowles
2023Michelle Cohen Dwyer
2022Ann Brohier
2021Ken Johnston
2020No Award Presented
2019Patti Huff Smith
2018Lisa Ross
2017Susan Chance-Rainwater
2016Kathleen R. Murray
2015Todd DeDecker
2014Carolyn Davis
2013Janet Khashab & Marianne Szabo
2012Linda & Bob Lane
2011Sandra Crowley
2010Tony Hanson, Barbara Ware
2009Jim Stone & Pat Stone
2008Jeri Steele
2007Terri Bradshaw O’Neill
2006Sharon A. Henry
2005Tresa Tatyrek
2004Alvin Harper
2003Melvin E. Brewer
2002Barbara Ware
2001Suzan Younger
2000Susan Powdrill
1999Dorothy Nash Roberts
1998Barbara Dossett
1997L. Malcolm Basham
1996Alan Miller
1995Shirley Remnant Sloat & Desmond Walls Allen
1994Robert H. Maybrie
President's Special Award

The President’s Special Award honors individuals or groups whose contributions to the Society fall outside the criteria for our other awards.

YearRecipient(s)
2024Barbara Coakley
2023Website Upgrade Team: Todd DeDecker, Tony Hanson & Susan Rainwater
2022Ken Johnston
2021DNA Seminar Technology Team
2020No Award Presented
2019Steve Rainwater
2018Tony Hanson
2017Ken Johnston
2016Jeri Steele
2014Gayla Bush
2013Janine Khashab & Mary Rinaldi
2012Sam V. Akins & Leah Markoff
2010Elizabeth Deihl