The lights in the genealogical universe dimmed a little this week – we lost one of our shining beacons with the passing of Lloyd de Witt Bockstruck, distinguished scholar, librarian, writer, educator, and lecturer. Lloyd died May 27, 2018, in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 73. To those in the Dallas area, he was our friend and genealogy guru who would gladly listen to our questions and point us in the right direction to find answers to all of our research challenges.
That, however, is only a small part of Lloyd’s legacy. He was born May 26, 1945, in Vandalia, Fayette County, Illinois, to Harry Earl Bockstruck and Olive Elise Blankenship. He earned an M.A. in European History from Southern Illinois University of Carbondale and an M.S. in Library Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne.
One of Lloyd’s lasting legacies is the Genealogy Collection at the Dallas Public Library. Lloyd joined the genealogical staff at DPL in 1973. During his 30-year tenure as Supervisor of the Genealogy Section (1979-2009), he oversaw the development and expansion of the collection. Lloyd’s vision and leadership paved the way for establishing DPL’s genealogy collection as one of the best in the United States. He retired from DPL in 2009 and continued to write books and lecture on his favorite subject, genealogy.
During his career, Lloyd spoke throughout the country at genealogical society workshops, seminars, and conferences. In addition to being named a Fellow of the Texas State Genealogical Society (2008), his many honors include being named a Fellow of the National Genealogical Society (1992) and receiving the initial Filby Prize for Genealogical Librarianship (1999) from NGS. For 39 years, he was on the faculty of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) at Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama.
Locally, he wrote a weekly article in the Dallas Morning News for 17 years. He also supported DGS and the Dallas community through his work not only at the library but also with the society and its projects.
Lloyd entertained us as he taught us. Listening to him was always so much more than learning about family research. His sense of humor came through in everything he did and could often be quite “dry.” He included little tidbits of information and humor in most of his talks, making him a favorite throughout Texas and wherever he spoke.
We will miss him; however, his imprint will live for generations!
More information about Lloyd and his life is available on the Dallas Genealogical Society website.