Betty DeFord, Bath, IL
Betty DeFord, on an Illinois River boat ride, saw a major problem for the waterway up￾
close when dozens of invasive silver carp flew out of the water and into the boat.
Nominators noted that when Betty saw the problems being caused by the spread of
invasive silver and bighead carp, she went on the offensive, founding the now-famous
Redneck Fishing Tournament on the Illinois River near Bath, Illinois in 2005. DeFord’s
goal was to encourage netting and removing the dangerous fish – and raising funds to
help homeless veterans. One nominator wrote: “With every tournament…and every
media interview, Betty capitalizes on her moment in the spotlight to deliver a message
about the vital importance of conservation efforts. Betty DeFord turned an ecological
nightmare into a community rally that has drawn people from around the world to this
tiny river town, all the while raising awareness of the dangers of invasive species and
collecting thousands of dollars to benefit veterans’ assistance organizations.”