I'm not an historian of economics, but if there were a figure like  
Heilbroner in my own subdiscipline -- someone who benefitted the entire  
field by his efforts as a popularizer and who was regarded by (almost?)  
everyone as a decent human being -- I think I'd want to honor him or her  
and to elevate the discipline itself through the very giving of the honor. 
 
Would it be inappropriate to create a new prize named for Heilbroner?  
Going, perhaps, to someone with an exemplary record in spreading the  
history of economics to a wider audience and/or introducing numerous  
students to the subject? 
 
Robert Whaples