i can think of a number of people, over the years. But here are just a few.
Ananke.
Ananke was forum admin on s2 ("old blue") during the most turbulent period of TNP history. I think very few people realised how young she was at the time. For a long period she was the sole admin, and not only coped with the demands of a busy forum, but also coped during a divided period when every decision was scrutinised for bias, and she weathered many personal attacks.
in fact, I was first made admin in TNP not because of my coding skills, but so that I could take some of the pressure off Ananke.
From working with her I know how she agonised to make every decision a fair one - a fact often unrealised by those who could offer nothing more constructive than to stand at the sidelines and criticise.
She remains for me the ideal forum admin, and one who served TNP well in that capacity for years.
><><><><><><><><><><><
Poe.
If I had to think of a single person who, in 2005-6, created the character of TNP, it would probably be Poe. Rarely all that active in government, she racked up thousands of posts in OOC and roleplay, often hundreds of posts a night in a typically anarchic style.
I once tried to keep up with her in spamming, and nearly burned my fingers out. Back in those days TNP probably boasted the best OOC section in the whole of Nationstates, and Poe, together with others like DD, OpArsenal, Rocketman, VB, Blackshear etc were the reasons why.
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
Gosh, there are so many others. But for the sake of the newer members, I want to give reasons, not just names, so I will post again soon.
F.