Brazile, Murray, James honored at Inaugural Vegas NFR Icons Tribute Luncheon

ProRodeo Hall of Famers Trevor Brazile, Ty Murray and Charmayne James received more accolades on Thursday.

The trio was honored at the Inaugural Vegas NFR Icons Tribute Luncheon at the Virgin Hotel, where they spoke with hosts Butch Knowles and Jeff Medders of The Cowboy Channel. The two announcers are icons themselves as they have been the broadcast team for the NFR for more than 30 years.

Brazile was honored in an arena presentation and had a banner unveiled in the rafters of the Thomas & Mack Center on Dec. 1 and the same will be done for James (Dec. 2) and Murray (Dec. 3).

“This is awesome,” Brazile said. “To be the first banner dropped at a place that means this much to me is tremendous. It is one of those things that hits you hard, it is overwhelming. To think of all the banners, they could have dropped here, and they chose me for one of them is really cool.”

Brazile, ProRodeo’s only $7-million cowboy, won a PRCA-record 26 gold buckles that include a PRCA-record 14 in all-around (2002-04, 2006-15, 2018), three in tie-down roping (2007, 2009-10) and one in team roping (2010) to go with the National Finals Steer Roping gold buckles in 2006-07, 2011, 2013-15 and 2019-20.

“The people, the fans were awesome,” said Brazile about what was so special about competing at the Thomas & Mack Center. “There’s no electricity like the Thomas & Mack. I have been in there without people, and it doesn’t have electricity until you put people in it and that’s the thing that made it so special.”

Murray won nine world championships – seven in all-around 1989-1994, and 1998 and bull riding in 1993 and 1998 – in his decorated ProRodeo career and relished his latest honor.

“Competing at the NFR is what everybody works for and that little building (Thomas & Mack Center) where everybody is stacked right on top of each other it encompasses so much excitement,” Murray said. “I will never forget my very first ride at my very first NFR when the horse jumped out in the arena. It felt like magic, and it was everything I had been waiting my whole life for.

“This icon award feels so extra special. I feel like this is one of the biggest accolades I have achieved, and it is something we have all watched take place in other sports and I’m glad to see our sport adopt this tradition and I’m so thankful and honored to be going into this with two of my best friends Trevor Brazile and Charmayne James.”

James’ career was set in motion in 1982 when a bay gelding, Gills Bay Boy “Scamper,” found a home in James’ barn after paying just $1,200. Together they became the most iconic duo in the equine industry, dominating the barrel racing ranks from 1984 until his retirement in 1993 with 10 consecutive world championships. James also won an 11th world title in 2002 aboard Cruiser.

“Every time I go by the Thomas & Mack Center, I feel like that is Scamper and my house,” James said. “I’m so honored to be recognized for this honor with my good friends Trevor Brazile and Ty Murray.”

Courtesy of PRCA