His celebrity fishing tournaments raised millions for cystic fibrosis research
Gary Ellis was a model on his way to a lucrative career playing a smoking cowboy for Camel Filters when Congress passed a law in 1969 banning television commercials for cigarettes.
Seeking an occupational change, he packed his bags and moved to the Florida Keys, first landing a job at a bar called the Rotten Mouse, before legendary charter fishing Capt. Skip Bradeen hired him to mate on his boat. Bradeen helped him get his captain’s license, and Ellis ran Capt. Skip’s boat for him when he went on vacation.
Eventually, Ellis became passionate about backcountry fishing, and he became a fishing guide in Florida Bay about a year and a half later, Bradeen said.
“He never looked back to the bar again,” Bradeen said Friday.
Ellis, 79, died Wednesday after “a brief illness,” according to a statement from Redbone, Inc., a charity that organizes celebrity fishing tournaments that raise money for cystic fibrosis research. He is survived by his wife Susan and their daughter Nicole.
Ellis founded Redbone more than 30 years ago after Nicole was diagnosed with the genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system.
At the time, people with cystic fibrosis were not expected to live past childhood. That’s changed, in large part because of research funded by money raised by charities such as Redbone, Ellis’ friends say.
Nicole is 35, healthy and married, according to the Redbone statement.
The Redbone tournaments, in which anglers target redfish and bonefish for catch-and-release, have since expanded worldwide after teaming with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, raising more than $30 million for research into the disease, according to the charity.
“If Gary’s not the definition of Superman, I don’t know who is,” said John Timura, an Islamorada businessman and backcountry fisherman. “Gary and Susan spent the rest of their lives walking through fire doing whatever they could do to beat that diagnosis to make sure their daughter lives a meaningful life, a longer life.”
The inaugural Redbone tournament launched from the Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar in 1988, and included celebrities like singer, actor and comedian Phil Harris, pro baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams and sports announcer Curt Gowdy.
In the years since, celebrity participants have included U.S. Army Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, baseball great Wade Boggs, pro tennis champion Chris Evert and the late E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons.
“He gave some wailing concerts several times for the benefit of the Redbone,” said Pete Johnson, a public relations executive for Mercury Outboards, which was a major sponsor of the tournaments.
Johnson said that at the peak of the tournament, before the great recession of 2008, between 75 and 80 boats fished the Redbone. He said much of the tournament’s success was due to the participation of Keys charter fishing guides.
“They were tremendous,” Johnson said. “They really put their all into it.”
Andy Newman, spokesman for the Florida Keys Tourist Development Council, said Ellis first approached Ted Williams, who lived in Islamorada, with the idea of holding a celebrity fishing tournament, and he asked for Williams’ help. At first the Red Sox left fielder and U.S. Marine combat pilot was not into the idea, Newman said.
Williams did not like the idea of a bunch of people killing fish. But, Ellis told him he envisioned the tournament to be only catch-and-release, which sold Williams, Newman said.
“There’s no doubt in terms of fishing tournaments that this event helped establish Islamorada as a premiere fishing destination, and they raised a ton of money,” Newman said.
Ellis was also known outside the Redbone world for his community service and helping other charities in the area. Betty Bauman, organizer of Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing tournaments, which encourages women to take up the sport, said Ellis donated a lot of his time teaching his skills at her classes.
“Gary was kind and generous with his time to help others,” Bauman said. “I always looked up to Gary. A lot of his mission was to serve others. That’s what motivated him.”
In lieu of flowers, Ellis’ family is asking people to donate to Redbone, “furthering Gary’s mission to fund CF research toward a cure for all fighting cystic fibrosis.”
His family is planning a celebration of life in Islamorada next month on a date that has not yet been announced.
“Then, as is custom in the Florida Keys and at his request, a flotilla of boats will leave the docks of Lorelei, where the Redbone began, for their trip to the backcountry where Gary Ellis’ ashes will be spread in the warm waters of his beloved Florida Bay,” the Redbone statement reads.
