Award of Merit

Your host at Pence Family History takes pride in telling you he was honored by the National Genealogical Society at its annual conference in Richmond May 12, 1999. Below is the Award of Merit and the accompanying citation.

Richard A. Pence joined NGS in 1977; he received the Society's Distinguished Service Award in 1986. He was a founding member of the NGS Computer Interest Group and served as editor of the CIG Digest from 1986-89. In 1986 he obtained a used computer to use for an NGS Bulletin Board Service and set up the NGS BBS in his own home because the Society did not have a permanent headquarters at the time. This put NGS on the cutting edge of technology. He acted as the first system operator or SYSOP of GENEALOGY (the new NGS Bulletin Board) and conducted several workshops on the use of the Bulletin Board at his office in DC. In 1986 and '87, he served on the NGS CIG Team. He was a moderator of GENEALOGY and GENSOFT, two genealogy-related conferences on FidoNet. He authored a series of articles on getting started in genealogy which were syndicated to more than 150 newspapers and publications in the late 70s in the aftermath of "Roots." He contributed articles to '"Genealogical Computing" and "NGS CIG Digest." With Paul Andereck he co-authored COMPUTER GENEALOGY - A Guide to Research Through High Technology.

Richard A. Pence receives his Award of Merit in Richmond.

Award of Merit

The Society presented four Awards of Merit to recognize the exceptional contributions of individuals and nonprofit organizations, which significantly aided research or increased interest in genealogy over a period of five or more years. A nominee need not be a member of NGS to receive this award.

The Society's Award of Merit was presented to Richard A. Pence, a founding member of the NGS Computer Interest Group, and an editor of the NGS/CIG Digest from 1986-89. In 1986, Mr. Pence put NGS on the cutting edge of technology when he obtained a used computer and set up the NGS Bulletin Board Service (NGS BBS) in his home (the Society did not have a "home" at the time). He conducted workshops on the use of the Bulletin Board at his office and authored a series of articles on getting started in genealogy, which were syndicated to newspapers and publications in the late 1970s. Mr. Pence received the NGS Distinguished Service Award in 1986. (NGS Newsletter, July-Aug., 1999)