Lloyd Bockstruck is a well known genealogy expert, speaker, educator, and writer. He is also well-known to readers of this newsletter for his frequent articles published here. For the past thirty-six years, Lloyd has been employed at the Dallas Public Library, spending the last thirty years as Supervisor of the Genealogy Section.
Here's a hint: if you ever get a chance to talk to Lloyd in person, ask him about his earlier years when he lived in some remote places in Africa. He has some fascinating stories to tell!
I am sure that Lloyd's many friends and readers will want to read the following announcement from Heather Williams, manager of the History, Social Sciences and Genealogy Department at the Dallas Public Library:
It is with regret that I announce the retirement of Lloyd deWitt Bockstruck after 36 years of service to the Dallas Public Library. His last day with the Library will be Friday, July 31.
Since 1979, Lloyd has been the Supervisor of the Genealogy Section. Under Lloyd’s leadership, the Genealogy Section has grown in size, scope, and reputation, leading the Family Tree Magazine in October 2002 to name the Dallas Public Library as one of the “Top 10 Public Libraries for Genealogists” in the country.
Lloyd was named a fellow of the National Genealogical Society in 1992 and was awarded the first annual Filby Prize for Genealogical Librarianship by the NGS in 1999. In 1994, the Dallas Genealogical Society created an annual award for an outstanding genealogist making significant national contributions to genealogy over a period of years, awarded the first one to Lloyd, and then named it the Lloyd deWitt Bockstruck Award. In 2008, Lloyd was named the recipient of the Lillian M. Bradshaw Award by the Friends of the Dallas Public Library.
Lloyd is easily the most sought after lecturer for annual seminars of local and state genealogical societies. He has addressed genealogical societies in 37 states and spoken at annual conferences of the National Genealogical Society and the Federation of Genealogical Societies. Since 1974, he has been a faculty member for the Samford University Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research.
Lloyd has authored numerous books and articles that have appeared in professional library and genealogical publications. Until this year, he had written the Dallas Morning News Family Tree column beginning in June 1991.
He is a member of more than 50 lineage and heritage societies.
Elizabeth Mills and the late Dr. Gary Mills, editors of the NGS Quarterly, wrote: "The name Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck is synonymous with modern genealogical education. His dry wit, wide range of subject matter, and fail proof knack of imparting exactly the kind of information his audiences need–all combine to guarantee a full house at Bockstruck’s lectures and seminars..... Researchers lucky enough to reside in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas daily ‘pick Lloyd’s mind’ at the Dallas Public Library…”
The staff members of the History and Social Sciences Division and Genealogy Section wish him success in all his future endeavors.
