There is a recurring concern that permeates throughout organizations when they are dealing with more informative recognition solutions. Should historical information about an individual be selective, and if it is, is that distorting who that person really is?
The simple answer is that recognition highlights the achievements of individuals. Achievements worthy of recognition tend to be good. Therefore, even though there may be a dark past to an individual, one need not present it. 
By way of analogy, a picture taken of an individual in a tuxedo or formal gown does not mean that individual never dresses down or gets dirty. It is a depiction chosen to represent that individual.
Although that explanation is enough to justify selective presentation, there is another way many may choose to view this issue. The more information that is presented, the more those reading the information can delve into the essence of an individual. Showing the different facets of an individual, whether positive or negative, gives the depth of that individual. Certainly, depth of information, including bits of information about the person’s upbringing, their family or their other achievements, gives a broader view. 
However, even their negative experiences are experiences nonetheless. For example, saying someone was once an alcoholic and overcame it is not necessarily a negative. It shows how that person triumphed over adversity. Knowing the miles of obstacles one had to navigate and circumvent on their journey to get where they are is much more impressive than just saying they arrived.
Regardless of the position one takes, it is important to hold one thing constant. Information presented about an individual should reflect who that person is, even if that is not the whole picture. True information is more important than complete information. To say someone is a doctor when in fact that individual is a greeter at the local mart is to distort who the person is, what they have achieved, and the difficulties they overcame. It may not be pretty, but they endured. Hiding the truth only masks what the person was really about. Also, there is no dishonor in working hard every day to support oneself and one’s family, but there is dishonor in lying.