By STAFF REPORTS
Longtime Florida environmental leader Allison DeFoor died Tuesday following a brief illness, according to the North Florida Land Trust, where he served as President and CEO.
DeFoor, 72, spent decades in public service, beginning his career in law enforcement. He was Monroe County Sheriff from 1989 to 1990 and was a prosecutor, public defender, judge, and law professor, according to a profile in Florida Trend. He was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 1990, running with Gov. Bob Martinez.
He also earned a degree in theology, becoming an Episcopal priest. As chair of the Tallahassee State College Board of Trustees, DeFoor oversaw the opening of the first prison built on a community college campus, designed to provide real-world correctional officer training, Tallahassee State College announced after his passing.
“DeFoor dedicated his life to service through distinguished careers in law enforcement, the judiciary, environmental conservation, education, and ministry,” the statement read. “His vision, leadership, and commitment to creating opportunities for others extended far beyond our College.”
Most recently, DeFoor served with the North Florida Land Trust, becoming president in 2022 after joining the Board in 2018.
“A seventh-generation Floridian, Allison devoted his life to serving others and protecting the Florida he loved,” The organization said in a statement. “His work in conservation, public service, and ministry reflected his belief that we each have a responsibility to care for the places and people around us. His familiar words, ‘It is now or never,’ expressed both his concern for Florida’s disappearing natural lands and his belief that, together, we could do something about it.”
DeFoor’s state service was prominent under Gov. Jeb Bush. He was Florida’s Everglades Czar, helping architect the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, the decades-long work to clean the state’s famous River of Grass. He also championed the 2014 passage of Amendment 1, which dedicated 33 percent of the net revenue from doc stamp taxes to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund for conservation. It passed with 75 percent of the vote.
“Allison made an enduring contribution to the conservation of Florida’s natural landscapes,” the North Florida Land Trust stated. “We are deeply grateful for his leadership and dedication to protecting the places that make Florida special. His legacy will continue to inspire our work.”
