You might wonder, why “Stoar?”

The name originates from our family’s small general store in Turnersville, TX. An apocryphal story argues that it was a deliberate marketing ploy in 1910 by owner John Hobin to have locals come and correct the spelling of Stoar’s name. We hold a candle for the possibility it was simply a typo by the sign painter.

Regardless of the origin, the name brought people — and Hobin Stoar’s extraordinary customer service had people coming back.

In 2001, Marsha Williamson launched Stoar Consulting to serve her community through research, fundraising, and organizational development.

One of her first projects was documenting the service records of every Highland Park High School veteran and creating a memorial plaque to honor them. What began as cross-referencing military and educational records turned into something bigger: the relationships she built with these veterans led to a PBS documentary series capturing firsthand accounts from over 50 alumni who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.

Marsha’s consulting work led to fundraising campaigns for nonprofits across Texas and nationally. In 2013, a consulting project with the Dallas 24 Hour Club — a recovery facility for people overcoming addiction — turned into something more permanent. The board asked her to step in as executive director.

Over the next 12 years, Marsha and her team rebuilt the organization from the foundation up. A brand new state-of-the-art building was 100% funded on the original site, services were expanded to include transitional living, and long-term financial viability was secured.

The name carries forward — same instinct, new gap to bridge. Which brings us to what Stoar means now.