Delbert and Edith Wylder Award

Instituted in 1993 and named for a WLA president and two founding members of the association, this award goes to a longtime WLA member for exceptional contributions to the association.

Delbert Wylder was not just a WLA president and founding member of the WLA, but a lifelong contributor to all things WLA, who kept in touch personally with many of the early members. At his memorial, he was described as follows: “Family, friends, books, and wine: these were the four elements of Delbert Wylder. Put them together and you get The Quintessential Deb, a charming, occasionally eccentric combination of humor, warmth, and high spirits.” Deb Wylder himself described his wife, Edith, as “such a pleasure to live with every day” (communication with Dorys Grover, 2000).

In order to nominate someone for the Wylder award, please collaborate with WLA colleagues and solicit at least three detailed letters of support, from students, WLA members, or anyone else who seems appropriate. They can be submitted together or separately to the WLA Awards Coordinator/s. The Awards Coordinator/s will submit the nominations to the Past Presidents and current presidential line, who will make the decision.

Members who have previously won the award will not be considered for a second nomination.

Please send nominations to our Awards Coordinator, Jada Ach.

Recipients of the Delbert and Edith Wylder Award for Exceptional Service to the WLA

2024 and 2025 No awards given
2023 Susan Bernardin
2022 Krista Comer
2021 Due to covid-related rescheduling of the 2021 conference, no award was given.
2020 Nicolas S. Witschi
2019 Susan Kollin
2018 Tom Lynch
2017 Sara Spurgeon
2016 Susan Naramore Maher
2015 Nancy S. Cook
2014 William R. Handley
2013 Melody Graulich
2012 Susanne George Bloomfield
2011 Ann Putnam
2010 Judy Nolte Temple
2009 Charles Crow
2008 Martin Bucco
2007 Laurie Ricou
2006 Phyllis Doughman
2005 Gerald Haslam
2004 Melody Graulich
2003 Robert Thacker
2002 Stephen Tatum
2001 Susan J. Rosowski
2000 James C. Work
1999 Ann Ronald
1998 Barbara Meldrum
1997 Jim Maguire
1996 Thomas J. Lyon
1995 Glen A. Love
1994 George F. Day
1993 Helen Stauffer