Tocker Foundation Grants

History

The Tocker Foundation was established in 1964 to implement the philanthropic interests of Phillip and Olive Tocker. Phillip Tocker was a practicing attorney but changed careers in his later years by purchasing the Waco outdoor advertising plant and later expanding to own outdoor advertising plants throughout the United States. His vocational career culminated to the position of President of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. After retiring to Austin in 1973, Phillip and Olive Tocker actively pursued their avocations. Phillip and Olive Tocker endowed the foundation with their estates in 1994 and 1993 respectively.

In 1992 the foundation board decided to focus grant distribution to small rural libraries in Texas serving a population of 12,000 or less. The direction is to assist libraries in making services more accessible to individuals who by reason of distance, residence, handicap, age, literacy level or other disadvantage are unable to receive the benefits of public library services. Grants are distributed to assisting libraries to serve as community information referral centers and provide literacy and bilingual programs. The Foundation partners with community libraries to meet the particular needs of the community.



At a Glance



Cite This Collection

Here is our suggested citation. Consult an appropriate style guide for conformance to specific guidelines.

Tocker Foundation Grants in The Portal to Texas History. University of North Texas Libraries. https://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/collections/TFG/ accessed July 10, 2025.


Explore Holdings

Start browsing through the holdings of this collection in one of the following ways:

Partners

Cuero Public Library
14,735
Fayette Public Library, Museum and Archives
13,486
Breckenridge Public Library
11,914
Dublin Public Library
11,572
Bonham Public Library
10,674
Lampasas Public Library
9,271
Red River County Public Library
9,173
Comanche Public Library
8,055
Carson County Library
8,001
Navasota Public Library
7,936
Fairfield Library
7,828
UNT Libraries
7,420
Alvin Community College
7,406
Timpson Public Library
6,465
Sammy Brown Library
6,316
Van Zandt County Library
6,304
Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library
6,268
Nellie Pederson Civic Library
6,023
South Plains College
5,920
Bastrop Public Library
5,871
Carnegie Library of Ballinger
5,858
Upshur County Library
5,644
Livingston Municipal Library
5,564
Delta County Public Library
5,544
Gladys Johnson Ritchie Library
5,485
Hondo Public Library
5,313
The Library of Graham
5,306
Jennie Trent Dew Library
5,027
Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center
4,967
Swisher County Library
4,920
Carl and Mary Welhausen Library
4,781
Coleman Public Library
4,728
Stamford Carnegie Library
4,573
Leonard Public Library
4,527
Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial Library
4,468
Singletary Memorial Library
4,413
Atlanta Public Library
4,320
West Public Library
4,309
Whitewright Public Library
4,252
Archer Public Library
4,236
Nesbitt Memorial Library
4,126
Palacios Library
4,078
Ed & Hazel Richmond Public Library
4,051
Winkler County Library
3,918
Llano County Public Library
3,912
FM Buck Richards Library
3,832
Gaines County Library
3,820
Virgil and Josephine Gordon Memorial Library
3,771
Crosby County Public Library
3,752
Friends of the Nocona Public Library
3,699
Bicentennial City County Library
3,651
Rusk County Library
3,581
Shamrock Public Library
3,552
Friench Simpson Memorial Library
3,278
Reagan County Library
3,219
Mineola Memorial Library
3,207
Rains County Library
3,194
Stonewall County Library
3,083
Taft Public Library
3,012
Shiner Public Library
2,909
Silsbee Public Library
2,878
Dennis M. O’Connor Public Library
2,805
Grandview Public Library
2,787
Alexander Memorial Library
2,743
Meridian Public Library
2,692
Harper Library
2,680
Sanger Public Library
2,551
Stella Hill Memorial Library
2,416
Harrie P. Woodson Memorial Library
2,381
Mathis Public Library
2,191
Bowie Public Library
2,000
Sinton Public Library
1,904
Gibbs Memorial Library
1,888
Franklin County Library
1,885
Olney Community Library
1,837
Odem Public Library
1,752
Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library
1,710
Wharton County Library
1,675
Elgin Public Library
1,650
Calhoun County Public Library
1,542
Lee Public Library
1,462
St. Edward’s University
1,382
McGinley Memorial Public Library
1,326
Jackson County Memorial Library
1,276
Bandera Public Library
1,194
Schulenburg Public Library
1,143
Stephen F. Austin East Texas Research Center
1,048
Baylor County Free Library
1,042
Madison County Library
1,024
Austin Memorial Library
1,012
Texas Southern University
973
Kerens Public Library
713
Higgins Public Library
684
Dallas Public Library
675
Depot Public Library
489
Eastland Centennial Memorial Library
437
Del Mar College
250
Reber Memorial Library
209
Alvord Public Library
16
City of Clarendon
13
African American Museum of Dallas
6

Counties (expand list)

DeWitt County, TX
19,516
Fannin County, TX
15,295
Fayette County, TX
14,631
San Patricio County, TX
12,910
Stephens County, TX
11,914
Erath County, TX
11,572
Lampasas County, TX
9,271
Bosque County, TX
8,716
Shelby County, TX
8,175
Comanche County, TX
8,058
Carson County, TX
8,001
Grimes County, TX
7,938
Austin County, TX
7,896
Freestone County, TX
7,728
Bastrop County, TX
7,521
Brazoria County, TX
7,406
Young County, TX
7,143
Cherokee County, TX
6,829
Red River County, TX
6,626
Panola County, TX
6,316
Van Zandt County, TX
6,304
Nolan County, TX
6,268
Lavaca County, TX
6,187
Hockley County, TX
5,920
Runnels County, TX
5,858
Montague County, TX
5,699
Upshur County, TX
5,672
McLennan County, TX
5,633
Polk County, TX
5,564
Delta County, TX
5,544
Jack County, TX
5,485
Medina County, TX
5,313
Mills County, TX
5,027
Lee County, TX
4,967
Swisher County, TX
4,920
Grayson County, TX
4,862
Coleman County, TX
4,761
Rusk County, TX
4,684
Milam County, TX
4,483
Jones County, TX
4,438
Archer County, TX
4,232
Matagorda County, TX
4,078
Winkler County, TX
3,918
Llano County, TX
3,912
Gaines County, TX
3,857
McCulloch County, TX
3,832
Crosby County, TX
3,752
Cottle County, TX
3,651
Travis County, TX
3,585
Wheeler County, TX
3,552
Reagan County, TX
3,219
Wood County, TX
3,207
Rains County, TX
3,194
Stonewall County, TX
3,083
Hardin County, TX
2,878
Johnson County, TX
2,787
Refugio County, TX
2,787
Gillespie County, TX
2,680
La Salle County, TX
2,577
Denton County, TX
2,551
Cass County, TX
2,396
Burleson County, TX
2,381
Hudspeth County, TX
2,242
Limestone County, TX
1,996
Morris County, TX
1,923
Lamar County, TX
1,888
Franklin County, TX
1,885
Wharton County, TX
1,675
Calhoun County, TX
1,542
Gregg County, TX
1,434
Hunt County, TX
1,319
Jackson County, TX
1,276
Bandera County, TX
1,194
Baylor County, TX
1,042
Madison County, TX
1,024
Liberty County, TX
1,012
Dallas County, TX
717
Navarro County, TX
714
Lipscomb County, TX
684
Titus County, TX
659
Throckmorton County, TX
493
Eastland County, TX
436
Nacogdoches County, TX
348
Jim Wells County, TX
309
Nueces County, TX
250
Willacy County, TX
209
Frio County, TX
166
Harris County, TX
157
Haskell County, TX
133
Karnes County, TX
51
Dallam County, TX
49
Hill County, TX
45
Smith County, TX
41
Guadalupe County, TX
32
Wise County, TX
16
Bee County, TX
14
Donley County, TX
13
Los Angeles County, CA
11
Cook County, IL
10
Middlesex County, MA
9
Bexar County, TX
7
Fulton County, GA
5
Hood County, TX
5
Suffolk County, MA
5
Trinity County, TX
5
Hamilton County, OH
4
Philadelphia County, PA
4
Victoria County, TX
4
Baltimore County, MD
3
Cuyahoga County, OH
3
Denver County, CO
3
Miami-Dade County, FL
3
Allegheny County, PA
2
Chaves County, NM
2
Collin County, TX
2
Davidson County, TN
2
Duval County, TX
2
Galveston County, TX
2
Greenbrier County, WV
2
Hartford County, CT
2
Jefferson County, KY
2
Lake County, IN
2
Montgomery County, OH
2
Orleans Parish, LA
2
Pima County, AZ
2
Shelby County, TN
2
Alameda County, CA
1
Arlington County, VA
1
Cameron County, TX
1
Chittenden County, VT
1
Douglas County, NE
1
Harrison County, TX
1
Jackson County, MO
1
Kings County, NY
1
Knox County, OH
1
Knox County, TX
1
La Plata County, CO
1
Lancaster County, NE
1
Live Oak County, TX
1
Lubbock County, TX
1
Midland County, TX
1
Multnomah County, OR
1
Nassau County, NY
1
New London County, CT
1
Oklahoma County, OK
1
Ontario County, NY
1
Orange County, CA
1
Orange County, NY
1
Potter County, TX
1
Queens County, NY
1
Richland County, SC
1
Santa Barbara County, CA
1
Tarrant County, TX
1
Taylor County, TX
1
Tyler County, TX
1
Walker County, TX
1
Washington County, AR
1
Wayne County, MI
1

Titles (expand list)

The Cuero Record
11,677
Breckenridge American
10,893
The Lampasas Daily Leader
6,689
The Alvin Sun
6,274
The Panola Watchman
6,133
The Clifton Record
5,916
Sweetwater Reporter
5,756
Navasota Daily Examiner
5,508
The Hondo Anvil Herald
5,196
Polk County Enterprise
4,844
The La Grange Journal
4,819
The Bastrop Advertiser
4,775
Cooper Review
4,673
Stephenville Empire-Tribune
4,614
The Dublin Progress
4,598
Goldthwaite Eagle
4,526
The Whitewright Sun
4,252
Gilmer Daily Mirror
4,231
The Tulia Herald
4,182
The Bonham Daily Favorite
4,130
The Groom News
4,004
New Ulm Enterprise
3,975
Palacios Beacon
3,922
The Llano News
3,912
The West News
3,877
The Winkler County News
3,839
The Seminole Sentinel
3,767
The Nocona News
3,710
The Comanche Chief
3,689
The Fairfield Recorder
3,669
The Paducah Post
3,651
Henderson Daily News
3,544
The Sealy News
3,503
The DeLeon Free Press
3,434
The Archer County News
3,398
The Shamrock Texan
3,395
Timpson Daily Times
3,303
Graham Leader
3,290
The Crosbyton Review
3,243
The Big Lake Wildcat
3,219
The Leonard Graphic
3,209
Rains County Leader
3,192
The Flatonia Argus
3,167
Aransas Pass Progress
3,125
Stamford American
3,095
The Cuero Daily Record
3,058
The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger
3,036
Canton Herald
3,025
The Aspermont Star
2,982
Shiner Gazette
2,909
The Silsbee Bee
2,878
The Grandview Tribune
2,787
The Jacksboro Gazette
2,771
The Cherokeean
2,701
The Meridian Tribune
2,690
The Teague Chronicle
2,626
The Cotulla Record
2,574
The Bogata News
2,503
Coleman Democrat-Voice
2,495
San Patricio County News
2,492
The Taft Tribune
2,424
The Levelland Daily Sun News
2,330
The Harper Herald
2,323
Timpson Weekly Times
2,280
The Clarksville Times
2,273
The Mathis News
2,191
The Fayette County Record
2,181
The Sanger Courier
2,180
White Deer News
2,174
The Mineola Monitor
2,169
The Villager
2,091
Yoakum Herald and Times
2,072
The Lampasas Leader
2,060
The Alto Herald
2,038
The Ladonia News
2,017
Jacksboro Gazette-News
1,971
Hudspeth County Herald and Dell Valley Review
1,948
Levelland and Hockley County News-Press
1,898
Bonham News
1,893
Mt. Vernon Optic-Herald
1,885
The Deport Times
1,881
Ballinger Daily Ledger
1,817
Svoboda
1,809
The Yoakum Daily Herald
1,808
The Odem-Edroy Times
1,752
The Graham Daily Reporter
1,738
The Ballinger Ledger
1,725
The Rusk Cherokeean
1,712
The Naples Monitor
1,708
The Olney Enterprise
1,689
The Panhandle Herald
1,625
The Mexia Weekly Herald
1,578
The Bowie News
1,502
The Port Lavaca Wave
1,493
Giddings Times and News
1,481
Gladewater Daily Mirror
1,432
The Wortham Journal
1,428
The Brady Standard and Heart O' Texas News
1,423
The Caldwell News and The Burleson County Ledger
1,422
The Grand Saline Sun
1,411
Refugio Timely Remarks
1,351
The Daily Ledger
1,343
The Bonham Herald
1,332
The Daily Favorite
1,327
The Celeste Courier
1,319
The Dublin Citizen
1,265
The Detroit News-Herald
1,210
The McGregor Mirror and Herald-Observer
1,210
The Bandera Bulletin
1,194
The Schulenburg Sticker
1,147
Halletsville Herald
1,146
The Brady Standard
1,132
The Daily Examiner
1,124
The Cass County Sun
1,123
The Elgin Courier and Four County News
1,120
Mount Enterprise Progress
1,103
The Baylor County Banner
1,041
El Campo Citizen
1,002
The Cameron Herald
977
Texas Senate Papers
973
The Giddings News
959
La Grange Deutsche Zeitung
950
The Navasota Examiner and Grimes County Review
934
The Bastrop Advertiser and County News
907
The Giddings Star
899
Hockley County Herald
897
The Citizens Journal
893
The Alvin Advertiser
891
The Ingleside Index
890
The Delta Courier
846
The Democrat-Voice
813
The Champion
777
The Edna Herald
760
Brady Standard-Herald and Heart of Texas News
753
The Swisher County News
738
The Kerens Tribune
712
Giddings Deutsches Volksblatt
707
The Dallas Express
678
The Madisonville Meteor
672
The Talco Times
659
The Stamford Leader
657
The Cleveland Advocate
618
The Tribune
610
The Tioga Herald
607
Hilltopper
604
Timpson & Tenaha News
592
The Jacksboro News
576
The Corrigan Press
569
The Gilmer Weekly Mirror
567
Upshur County Echo
566
The Christian Messenger
553
Yoakum Weekly Herald
549
The Caldwell News-Chronicle
542
Stephenville Daily Empire
540
The Wills Point Chronicle
537
Elgin Courier
530
Stamford American and The Stamford Leader
524
The Brady Herald
524
Crosby County News
509
Banner-Leader
502
The Mullin Enterprise
500
Light Champion
496
Stephens County Sun
478
Cat's Claw
476
New Era-Herald
475
The Banner-Ledger
471
Hilltop Views
464
The Lavaca County Tribune
459
The Savoy Star
455
Throckmorton Tribune
445
Center Daily News
437
Coleman County Chronicle
427
The Canton Telephone
427
Burleson County Ledger and News-Chronicle
417
The Wood County Record
411
Lipscomb Lime Light and Follett Times
406
Illustrated Paperboy
391
Coleman Daily Democrat-Voice
384
Free State Enterprise
383
El Campo Leader-News
380
The Alto Herald and The Wells News 'N Views
378
The West Weekly News
377
The Traveler
375
Sanger News
371
Refugio Timely Remarks and Refugio County News
355
The Cushing News
348
Refugio County Press
344
The Sun-News
342
Edna Weekly Herald
341
The Comanche Chief and Pioneer Exponent
341
The Dublin Progress and Telephone
326
The Refugio Review
317
Lampasas Dispatch Record
312
Orange Grove Observer
309
Coleman Chronicle and Democrat-Voice
302
Detroit Weekly
295
Dell Valley Review
293
The Mirror
290
The Nolan County News
283
The Rockdale Reporter
278
Winnsboro Weekly News
275
The Examiner-Review
270
The Sunday Record
269
The Dynamo
264
The State Herald
264
De Leon's Monitor
259
White Deer Review
257
The Bowie Blade
253
The Foghorn
250
Van Zandt News
230
The Herald
229
Sweetwater Daily Reporter
223
The Madisonville Meteor and Times
223
The Harper News
221
The Coleman Voice
219
The Omaha Breeze
215
The Refugio County Record
215
The Texas Monument
211
Hallettsville Semi-Weekly New Era-Herald
210
The Lampasas Record
209
Archer County Advocate
207
Breckenridge Weekly Democrat
204
Lexington Leader
204
The Wharton Journal-Spectator
203
Semi-weekly New Era
189
The Bastrop County Times
189
The Hallettsville New Era
188
The Detroit News
185
Sealy Weekly News
181
Panola County Post
180
The Rockdale Messenger
176
Jackson County Herald-Tribune
175
The Yoakum Weekly Times
173
The Bonham News and Fannin County Favorite
168
The Weekly Herald
168
The Jack County Herald
167
St. Edward's University Newsletter
166
The Stamford News
162
The Timely Remarks
161
Frio-Nueces Current
159
Wheeler County Texan
157
Timpson News
154
The Alliance Standard
151
New Ulm Daily Enterprise
150
The Daily Sun News
150
The Stephenville Tribune
150
The Newcastle Register
148
The Graham Reporter
145
The Fannin County Favorite
141
The Pioneer Exponent
141
Willacy County News
140
The Atlanta News
136
Plainsman Press
134
Tri-County Sun Progress
133
The Madisonville Meteor and Commonwealth
129
The Plain Dealer
128
The Comanche News
124
The Bogata Tribune
121
Fayette County Record
118
The McGregor Mirror and the Crawford Sun
116
The Cisco Round-up
114
The Rule Review
113
The Montague County Times
106
The Circle Register
105
The Lone Star Catholic
105
The Examiner
102
The Stonewall County Courier
101
Valley Mills Progress
101
The Archer Advocate
100
The Bi-Stone Weekly Review
100
Hockley County Free Press
94
Lipscomb Lime Light
94
Lee County Weekly
92
The Carbon News
92
Van Banner
91
The Anvil Herald
90
Graham Daily Leader
89
East Bernard Express
88
The Sealy Semi-Weekly News
87
The Bowie Booster
85
The Patriot
84
Lee County News
82
The Coleman Daily Voice
80
The Kermit Daily Sun
79
The Kiowa Valley Independent
79
Levelland Leader
75
The Stephens County Times
75
The Van Zandter
74
East Texas Press
70
The Longhorn Express
70
Raymondville Chronicle
69
Tri-County Sun
69
The Lexington Enterprise
66
The Harper Citizen
65
The New Era
64
The Texan-Telephone
64
The Enterprise
63
North Texas Enterprise
62
The Dublin Shamrock News
59
The State Rights Democrat
57
Our Town Times
53
Seminole News
53
The Comanche Vanguard
53
The Bay City News
52
Wood County Echo
52
Cisco Apert
50
The Van News
50
Texline Tribune
49
The Calhoun County Times
49
The Schulenburg Argus
49
Throckmorton Herald
48
Mexia Evening News
46
The Itasca Item
45
The Karnes City Citation
42
Trojan Tattler
39
Camp Hulen Searchlight
38
The Bowie News-Times
38
Henderson News-Herald
37
The Seagraves Signal
37
The Aransas Harbor Herald
36
Sun Progress
35
The Woodsboro News
34
The Young County News
32
The Santa Anna News
31
The Giddings Times
29
Fletcher's Farming
26
The Archer County Times
25
St. Edward's Echo
23
The Texas News
23
The Cooper Weekly Review
22
The Leader
21
The Linden Standard
21
The Corrigan Tribune
19
The Gilmer Mirror
18
The National Co-Operator
18
The Rule Review and the Rochester Reporter
18
Edwardian
17
The Daily Courier
17
The True Issue
17
Panhandle Progress
16
The Guadalupe Gazette
16
The Troupe Banner
16
The Lone Star Lutheran
15
Beeville Today
14
The West Times
14
East Texas Light
13
Red River County Review
12
The Graham Leader
12
The Local-Chronicle
12
The Thorndale Thorn
10
Lexington Community News
9
Texas Volksfreund
9
The Dublin Weekly Telephone
9
The Mineola Daily Argus
9
The Thurber Journal
9
The Yorktown News
9
The Coleman Democrat-Voice
8
The Thornton Hustler
8
The Palomar Kamper
7
The South Texas News
7
Baptist Young People's Union Assembly News
6
Red River County News
6
The Fayetteville Fact
6
The Kenedy Advance
6
Weekly Visitor
6
Comanche Enterprise and Weekly Wilsonian
5
The Alliance Journal
5
The Thorndale Champion
5
Valley Mills Tribune
5
Alvin News
4
Austwell Dispatch
4
Streetman News
4
Sweetwater Weekly Reporter
4
The Archer Dispatch
4
The Standard
4
The Trinity Tribune
4
Tyler American
4
Cooper Daily News
3
Sipe Springs Record
3
The Annona News
3
The Carthage Value Special
3
The Eastland Chronicle
3
The Gustine Tribune
3
The Linden Alliance Standard
3
The Signal
3
The Tolar Standard and Register
3
The Tom Bean Times
3
Bosque Eagle
2
East Texas Pinery
2
Focus
2
Lion Express
2
Longview Morning Journal
2
New Duval
2
Santa Anna Daily News
2
The Avenger
2
The Bosque Globe
2
The Bowie Cross Timbers
2
The Clarksville Enterprise
2
The Cotulla Ledger
2
The Flatonia Record
2
The Kenedy Times
2
The Mountain Eagle
2
The Point Enterprise
2
The Refugio Register
2
The Semi=Weekly Courier
2
The Texas Herald
2
The Trenton Tribune
2
The Victoria Daily Times
2
The Woodsboro Hustler
2
The Yoakum Daily Times
2
Twin Cities News
2
Alliance Courier
1
Blooming Grove Times
1
Buff Stuff
1
Capitol Tax Letter
1
Erath County Democrat
1
Fayetteville News
1
Four-Star Cognac
1
Herald and Planter
1
Hollywood Star News
1
IUD Agenda
1
Kenedy Advance-Times
1
Kerens Booster
1
Ladonia Commercial
1
Legislative Notes
1
Live Oak County Leader
1
Marshall News Messenger
1
National Education Association Journal
1
North Texas Farmer
1
Paris Sunday Tribune
1
San Antonio Light
1
Seymour Weekly Cresset
1
Sunset Signal
1
T-Arrow Daily
1
Texan
1
Texas Coast News
1
The Atlanta Times
1
The Avery Enterprise
1
The Avery Times
1
The Bowie Enterprise
1
The Bowie Times-News
1
The Cameron Enterprise
1
The Christian Visitor
1
The Clarksville Incubator
1
The Clarksville News
1
The Daily Herald
1
The Dallas Star Post
1
The Detroit Herald
1
The Dodd City Weekly Spectator
1
The Dublin Gazette
1
The East Texas Echo
1
The El Campo News
1
The Exchequer
1
The Fayette County New Era
1
The Fowlerton Reporter
1
The Givens Gazette
1
The Goree Gazette
1
The La Grange High School N. F. A. News
1
The Laborer
1
The Lampasas County Extra
1
The Megargel News
1
The Paper
1
The Paris Daily Herald
1
The Radio Post
1
The Red River County Herald
1
The Seagoville Herald
1
The Seguin Times
1
The Sticker
1
The Sunday Morning Sun
1
The Texas Pioneer
1
The Texas Triangle
1
The Tolar Messenger
1
The Trinity Times
1
The Tyler Courier
1
The Victoria Advocate
1
The Weekly Mineola Monitor
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