2025 Vegas NFR Icons

By Patrick Everson

The names of the world champions who’ve set foot on the dirt of the Thomas & Mack Center are a who’s who of rodeo.

That includes a handful from the past three years who were named Vegas NFR Icons: Trevor Brazile, Charmayne James, Ty Murray, Billy Etbauer, Cody Ohl, Joe Beaver, Rich Skelton and Speed Williams.

All legends, rightly honored as such after staking their claim to NFR fame in Las Vegas. But the heights they all reached in Sin City wouldn’t have been possible without two people:

Benny Binion and Shawn Davis. Those two lead the way in the 2025 class of Vegas NFR Icons, joined by saddle bronc superstar Dan Mortensen.

On Friday afternoon, shortly before the second go-round, all three were feted at a gathering inside the Cowboy Corral at the Thomas & Mack. Jeff Medders and Butch Knowles walked through their illustrious careers, joined on stage by Davis, Mortensen and Binion’s son Jack.

Binion has to come first, because it was his vision that helped lure the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to Las Vegas in the first place. Binion passed away on Christmas Day 1989, shortly after Vegas hosted its fifth Wrangler NFR.

But Jack was on hand Friday and grateful to see his father honored.

“The NFR wouldn’t have been here without him,” Jack said. “He loved the rodeo and the cowboys so much. He never cared about any other sport than rodeo.

“He would’ve enjoyed getting this honor. He would’ve just loved this. It’s very, very special.”

Benny Binion spent years convincing PRCA officials and Las Vegas leaders that the NFR was an event worth pursuing. The 10-day rodeo would benefit the city at an otherwise dead time of year, in December, and the NFR would benefit from being in a city known for entertainment.

“The NFR helped Vegas a whole lot. But Las Vegas helped the NFR a lot, too. It’s been a win-win for everybody,” Jack said.

While Binion was the initial motivating force, Davis was the linchpin. In December 1984, when the vote came up on whether to keep the NFR in Oklahoma City or move to Las Vegas, it was a 5-5 tie. As president of the PRCA at the time, Davis held the tiebreaking vote.

“They said, ‘Mr. President, it’s your decision.’ I said, ‘We’re gonna go to Las Vegas. That’s the best thing for the future of the NFR and the sport of rodeo,’” Davis recalled.

But Davis’ vote doesn’t happen without Binion’s vision.

“If not for Benny Binion, I never would’ve had the confidence to make that decision,” Davis said.

In 1986, Davis took over as NFR general manager, a role he held through 2019. He built the Super Bowl of Rodeo into everything it is today. So his banner will rightly be lifted into the Thomas & Mack rafters, alongside Binion’s, during Saturday night’s third go-round.

Joining those two as Vegas NFR Icons this year is Mortensen, who won six saddle bronc world championships and one world all-around crown, as well. The Montana cowboy first set foot on T&M dirt in 1990, and he went on to qualify for the NFR 17 times.

Mortensen won his first world saddle bronc title in 1993, then won it again in ’94 and ’95. He won back-to-back saddle bronc world titles in 1997-98, and even added the all-around gold buckle in ’97.

His final world title came in 2003, tying him with the legendary Casey Tibbs for the event record.

Mortensen’s last NFR was 2006, and he’s since moved on to a very different life as husband to Kate and father of daughters Joy and Julie, and son Caleb. So no one in his family ever saw him compete, which made Friday night’s Vegas NFR Icons presentation that much more special.

“Rodeo was my life from the time I was 11 years old,” Mortensen said just before watching his banner hoisted into the rafters. “I’m just proud to have my family with me. The kids are extremely excited. It feels great to be here. I love watching the competition here in Vegas.

“And to be honored at the Thomas & Mack is something special.”