The American Gem Society (AGS) recently presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Richard T. Liddicoat. The retired executive director of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) received the award at the second annual AGS Circle of Distinction Dinner, held July 31, 2001 during the JA-New York Show.

Liddicoat joined GIA in 1940, succeeding Robert M. Shipley as executive director. The author of The Handbook of Gem Identification and editor of the GIA Diamond Dictionary, Liddicoat also was instrumental in developing the GIA Diamond Grading System in 1953. He retired from the organization in 1986.