FamilySearch International announced that its Chief Genealogical Officer, David Rencher, received the Italian Heraldic Genealogical Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 36th International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences (ICGHS) held in Boston on September 27, 2024. Rencher was recognized for his life-long work and influence in "advancing the field of genealogy."
The distinguishing award was a complete surprise to Rencher. “I am humbled and honored. I was not expecting this,” remarked Rencher. “I appreciate all the great work the (ICGHS) society does and the window it gives us into a field (Heraldry) with which many genealogists are unfamiliar. And they always produce the highest quality content.”
Rencher commented, “Heraldry exists in many forms: It can be the designs on shields and other attire worn by knights, flags, royal emblems, family crests, the tartans of Scottish clans, and so forth.” He stated that heraldry is much less common in the United States even though it has a presence here including a shield or coat of arms used in many places.