Well, thanks for that one. That’s going into my word/phrase bank.
And – apropos of nothing – my wife and I absolutely loved our time there:
Unique
Individual
“The Dean”
Examples:
All the stories are written Craig T. Wright, the Dean of Baseball Storytellers,
[Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the “dean of science fiction writers,” he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre in his time.
Longtime Bay Area food writer John Birdsall, who recently relocated to Tucson, turned his attention to “the dean of cookery,” James Beard, one of the least understood and most beloved culinary figures of the 20th century.
No, like I said, SAT words, or college-level words. Sui generis and nonpareil and rara avis all are in the ballpark (as are cynosure and apotheosis, maybe quintessence.) And “iconoclast.” I think I was thinking of the word “iconoclast” and crossed it in my brain with the adjective phrase sui generis.
avatar?
“Ijin”?
Not an English word according to the Oxford English Dictionary (which does have sui generis, avatar, nonpareil and so on)
“English” was not actually a specified requirement.
(Nor was “common,” “likely” or “plausible.” 
)
Not an SAT word, but “standout” itself is a noun that somewhat qualifies.
A standout is something that is conspicuous for its difference, not necessarily better than everything else, but it can also mean that.
I mean, sure. I was just looking for a more Poindexter-ish word.
vanguard, avant garde
Fine, call them a Cecil.
Maverik, as someone else about suggested
Mentioned by me, in the OP.
Like I said, I’m satisfied that “sui generis” is the word I was thinking obliquely of.
Fancyclopedia.
The title Dean of Science Fiction was first applied to Murray Leinster by Time Magazine in a May 30, 1949, article: “In the U.S., Will F. Jenkins, a 27-year veteran, who also writes under the pen name of Murray Leinster, is regarded as the dean of writers in the field.” Leinster noted that he was “called ‘Dean’ of science fiction writers by virtue of my having outlived a number of better men.”
I can get behind this🤭
Pip
~VOW
I love it when that happens. NOT!!
Brains be weird.
I was loading up my 205 straight skis from the 80’s onto my Barcrafter ski rack on my '71 BMW, and some hipster walks by and says, “Dude! You are Old-School!”
I turned around and in a Steven Wright Deadpan said, “Dude. I’m The Superintendent of Old-School.”