The honor is the highest conferred by the Alumni Association on behalf of the University. The award is presented to alumni who have attained outstanding success and national or international distinction in their chosen profession or life's work.

Professor Wilmeth was awarded the Theatre History Preservation Award by the same institution in 2012. Wilmeth has either written, co-authored, or edited over 40 books on theatre and is the past series editor "Studies in American Theatre and Drama" and the current editor of Palgrave Macmillian's "Studies in Theatre and Performance History." He is also a collector and curator of theatre and entertainment memorabilia.

Professor Wilmeth's award from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he received his Ph.D. in 1964, was given as a recognition of his rich career in theatre scholarship.