The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Panegyrist \Pan"e*gyr`ist\, n. [L. panegyrista, Gr.
   panhgyristh`s, one who attends a panh`gyris: cf.
   panhgyri`zein to celebrate or attend a public festival, to
   make a set speech, esp. a panegyric, in a public assembly.
   See Panegyric.]
   One who delivers a panegyric; a eulogist; one who extols or
   praises, either by writing or speaking.
   [1913 Webster]

         If these panegyrists are in earnest.     --Burke.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

panegyrist
    n 1: an orator who delivers eulogies or panegyrics [syn:
         eulogist, panegyrist]