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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Pat Richley
Immediate Past President
Manasota Genealogical Society
941- 756-8262

R.B. "Chips" Shore Receives Florida Genealogy
Outstanding Achievement Award

December 1, 2004-Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, R.B. "Chips" Shore, was presented with the 2004 Florida Genealogy Outstanding Achievement Award by the Board of the Manasota Genealogical Society, on behalf of the Florida State Genealogical Society.

In August 2004, the Manasota Genealogical Society nominated Shore for this award because of his diligent efforts in preserving historical documents, making their scanned images available online and fighting to keep all public records open to the public online. In the nomination letter, Shore is praised for administering the Manatee County Historical Records Library, sponsoring Manatee County's History Fair each year and the growth of his Historical Resources division, which includes the Manatee Village Historical Park, the Palmetto Historical Park, the Manatee County Agricultural Museum, the Florida Gulf Coast Maritime Museum at Cortez and Family Heritage House.

In his acceptance of this honor, Mr. Shore thanked the Genealogy Society for their part in preserving these vital documents, "When I was first elected, I met with the Genealogical Society and they helped me understand, in no uncertain terms, the value of these wonderful records. Because of our partnership, we lead the state in having records available online. It is such a privilege for me to be here accepting this award and I thank you." Mr. Shore also thanked the County Commission for putting the county's historical resources under him and their continued funding of these important sites.

Pat Richley, Immediate Past President of the Manasota Genealogical Society, said, "If these old documents are thrown out, it would be impossible to trace our roots. Family historians seek evidence of our ancestors through old marriage registers, land ownership maps and court records. We're all praying there is someone wonderful like Mr. Shore preserving old documents in the other states and counties where our ancestors once lived."