I was thinking that too, kat/katlaughing, but I've gone over the language in your link two or three times and it looks like there can be up to twelve per year of this category...

...the National Endowment for the Arts annually awards up to twelve one-time-only National Heritage Fellowships for master folk and traditional artists...they should have a record of continuing artistic accomplishment and must be actively participating in their art form, either as practitioners or as teachers."

...but only one of this category...

"In addition, one National Heritage Fellowship per year may be awarded to an individual whose achievements have had major positive impact on the excellence, vitality, and public appreciation of the folk and traditional arts."

I'm not very familiar with the Patons. Are they recognized as artists as well as producers? If so, they could qualify for the first category, leaving the second for Max. If not, it looks like they would both fit into the second category.