I person I admire the most is my international business professor from when I was an undergrad. He doesn't do many articles but he pumps out a book every 3 or 4 years. He specializes in middle eastern relations and trade. I don't admire him for his work because I don't like the field of international busines, but I admire him because he is a PhD and he has it all. He's established as a kinda famous person in the field, he has a wife who loves him and you can tell he loves her very much, and he successfully raised his children while doing his research.
The person I RESPECT the most is the professor I did research for this summer (technology innovation). Shes really smart, produces excellent papers, and semi famous in the research circles.