Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the honourable man of a people comes to you, honour him."
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب قتال أهل البغي / 16686
Sayyiduna Jarir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent (as a prophet), I came to him, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "O Jarir, what has brought you?" He said: O Messenger of Allah, I want to accept Islam at your hands. So he (peace and blessings be upon him) gave me his cloak, then turned to his Companions and said: "When the honourable man of a people comes to you, honour him." And he says: After that, whenever he (peace and blessings be upon him) saw me, he would smile.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب قتال أهل البغي / 16687
Abu Imran al-Jawni (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him): Notable people will always bring the needs of the people to you, so honour them; and it is sufficient for a weak Muslim that he is treated fairly in justice and in distribution.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب قتال أهل البغي / 16688