Becker gets another gong

From Steven Levitt. Gary Becker will receive the 2007 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. Becker already has a Nobel Prize, a National Medal of Science, the John Bates Clark Medal, and sixteen honorary doctorates. To quote Levitt:

'No economist of Becker’s generation has had such a profound influence both inside and outside the profession. It is worth noting that when he first began doing some of his seminal research many years ago, on subjects like marriage and racism, he was looked down upon in the profession for straying too far outside the lines of what was considered normal, worthwhile research.' (my bold)

I think this is an accurate summary. See this interesting autobiographical sketch, his wife Guity’s reflections on meeting Gary, and Levitt's own experiences with Becker.