August Wilson

Honorary Degree Recipient

Doctor of Humane Letters

College of Liberal Arts, October 9, 2002

August Wilson is the author of Jitney, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Fences, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars, and King Hedley II. His plays have been produced at regional theatres across the country and all over the world. His work has garnered many awards including Pulitzer Prizes for Fences (1987) and for The Piano Lesson (1990); a Tony Award for Fences; Great Britain's Oliver Award for Jitney; as well as seven New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Fences, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars, and Jitney. The cast recording of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom received a 1985 Grammy Award, and he received a 1995 Emmy nomination for his screenplay adaptation of The Piano Lesson. In addition, he has written several one-act plays and the musical satire Black Bart and the Sacred Hills. Mr. Wilson has also received many fellowships and awards.

Biographies are as-of time of award presentation.