Texas Institute of Letters

The Texas Institute of Letters is an organization devoted to the promotion of literature and literacy in Texas.

Founded in 1936, the TIL offers awards to outstanding books written by Texas authors, or dealing with Texas subjects. The TIL also co-administrates the Dobie Paisano Fellowship, which awards residencies at the ranch of former TIL President J. Frank Dobie.[1]

Prizes awarded annually include (with 2015 dollar amounts) the Jesse H. Jones Fiction Award ($6000), the Carr P. Collins Award for nonfiction ($5000), the Ramirez Scholarly Book Award ($2500), the Steven Turner Award for first published fiction, the Helen C. Smith Award for poetry, the Bob Bush Award for first book of poetry, the Edwin "Bud" Shrake Award for short nonfiction, the Kay Cattarulla Short Story Award, the Fred Whitehead Award for design of a trade book, the H-E-B/Jean Flynn Children's Book Award, the H-E-B Young Adult Book Award, and the Denton Record-Chronicle Best Children's Picture Book award.[2]

Prominent members include: Larry McMurtry, Robert Caro, Dagoberto Gilb, Sandra Cisneros, Debra Monroe, James Hynes, and Chitra Divakaruni.[3]

The Lon Tinkle Award

The Lon Tinkle Award is a life-achievement award bestowed annually to distinguished writers from, or in some way associated with, Texas. The honorees are chosen by the TIL Council from nominations made by the membership.

Winners

1981: Thomas C. Lea III (1907–2001)
1982: John Graves (born 1920)
1983: William A. Owens (1905–1990)
1984: Larry McMurtry (born 1936)
1985: Donald Barthelme (1931–1989)
1987: Elmer Kelton (1926–2009)
1987: A.C. Greene (1923–2002)
1988: Charles Leland "Doc" Sonnichsen (1901–1991)
1989: John Edward Weems (1924–1999)
1990: Marshall Northway Terry, Jr. (born 1931)
1991: Margaret Cousins (1905–1996) †
1992: Vassar Miller (1924–1998) †
1993: Horton Foote (1916–2009) †
1994: Americo Paredes (1915–1999) †
1995: William Humphrey (1924–1997) †
1996: Cormac McCarthy (born 1933)
1997: Rolando Hinojosa-Smith (born 1929)
1998: Robert Flynn (born 1932)
1999: Walt McDonald (born 1934)
2000: Leon Hale (born 1921)
2001: William H. Goetzmann (1930–2010) †
2002: Shelby Hearon (born 1931)
2003: Bud Shrake (1931–2009) †
2004: T. R. Fehrenbach (born 1925)
2005: James Martin Hoggard (born 1941)
2006: William D. Wittliff (born 1940)
2007: David Joseph Weber (1940–2010) †
2008: Carolyn C. Osborn (born 1934)
2009: Larry L. King (1929–2012) †
2011: C.W. Smith (born 1940)
2012: Gary Cartwright (born 1934)
2013: Stephen Harrigan (born 1948)
† Beginning 2011, the award date reflects the actual date of the presentation. For instance, Larry King's 2009 award was actually presented in 2010.

References

  1. ↑ Texas Institute of Letters, by John Edward Weems, The Handbook of Texas (online), Texas State Historical Commission
  2. ↑ Charles Ealy, "Elizabeth Crook takes top prize in state literary competition", Austin American-Statesman (April 12, 2015), p. B7
  3. ↑ Texas Institute of Letters website

External links