2025 Lawson Cary Jr. Conservation Award

The Lawson Cary Conservation Jr. Conservation Award is presented to an individual or organization for their contributions of time, energies and knowledge that have greatly aided the Chapter in achieving its conservation mission goals and milestones.

Some of the criteria for the award are as follows:                                                                     

 1) Focus on achieving Rhode Island TU’s Vision and executing its Mission.

2) Respected as an example and role model for Rhode Island TU members and its communities in the areas of completing Mission-based goals.

3) Promoting an atmosphere of cooperation, collaboration, and camaraderie among members of like-minded conservation organizations.

4) Providing experience that enhances the accomplishment of established programs, projects, and activities.

5) Leading and/or participating in a wide variety of the Chapter’s and associated partner’s education, conservation, and clean-up programs, projects, and activities.

6) Respected for effectively balancing the conservation needs of the Chapter with the recreational needs of all members, partners, and friends.

Some things about this year’s recipient:

• Both grew up fishing and crabbing, starting from a very young age. This love of the outdoors came from their parents and has now been passed down to their daughters and grandchildren.

• As high school sweethearts, they’ve been together for 52 years and in June will celebrate 48 years of marriage. Their very first date all those years ago in August 1974 was trout fishing.

• They have fished together in fresh and salt waters all over North America: New England, New York, Florida, Arkansas, California, Texas, Michigan, British Columbia, the Caribbean, and are heading to Alaska this summer, but are just as happy taking the canoe out on one of the local ponds in southern RI or fly fishing on the Wood River (where he has never let water filling up his waders stop him from fishing).

• He is skilled in the art of fly tying and has taught his daughters and grandkids. In recent years, he’s been known to gift the flies he makes, and has also donated them to help various causes. 

• She participated, as a child, in competitive fishing derbies, and that competitive spirit continues today, still outfishing him most of the time.

• Always conservation-minded, he never goes for a walk without picking up at least three pieces of trash.

• In addition to fishing, they are avid hikers and outdoors people, whether they are enjoying getaways to the Catskill mountains, hiking one of the many nature trails around Rhode Island, or outside their own home working on their extensive gardens and feeding the birds.

• They are both active in Trout Unlimited, regularly attending meetings, volunteering with events like trees for trout, roadside clean-ups, and habitat restoration, and attending the annual banquet.

The Rhode Island Chapter of Trout Unlimited would like to present the 2025 Lawson Cary Jr Conservation Award to

Fred and Cindy Weber

Thank You for your relentless effort, time, and energy in aiding our chapter achieve its conservation mission goals.