BELMONT PARK, N.Y. – In a weekend filled with high drama inside UBS Arena — from buzzer-beating rides to what would be remembered as the biggest upset in league history during the Sunday finale — nothing eclipsed the pride, gratitude and palpable energy that swept through the building when Col. (Ret.) Michael Donovan was recognized with the Be Cowboy Award on Saturday evening. The roar of the crowd for a man whose life has been defined by service rose even higher than for any 90-point ride, a reminder that some victories echo far beyond the dirt.
For more than 26 years, Donovan wore the uniform of the United States Army, serving around the globe as an engineer officer. He rose to the rank of colonel, carrying the responsibility of leading men and women in both combat and humanitarian missions. His career was marked by assignments that spanned continents: military and reconstruction work in Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guyana, Germany, Macedonia and Bosnia. In Iraq, he oversaw reconstruction efforts during one of the most volatile periods of the war, managing a $21 billion effort with steadiness under fire. At home, he guided vital projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and even helped steer post-Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts from the Pentagon. Each chapter in his service added a new layer to a story defined by resilience, sacrifice and a relentless devotion to others.
His work earned him some of the nation’s highest honors, including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal, along with induction into the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. But ask those who know him, and they’ll say his greatest legacy is not the medals pinned to his chest, but the example he set — leading with courage, humility and care for every soldier under his command.
When Donovan retired from active duty, he did not step away from service. Instead, he shifted his mission to one of remembrance and meaning. Since 2008, he has worked at the World Trade Center site, serving as a program director while dedicating himself to the stewardship of the America’s Response Monument, the iconic Horse Soldier Statue. The statue, depicting Special Forces soldiers on horseback in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan, has become a global symbol of resilience, patriotism and unity. For Donovan, it is also personal. As director, he recovers and catalogs every artifact left in tribute at the statue — dog tags, flags, notes, medals — storing them within the monument itself so that no sacrifice is forgotten.
In that sacred space, he has led hundreds of tours and conversations, opening the story of America’s response after 9/11 to service members, wounded warriors, Medal of Honor recipients, first responders and even PBR bull riders. Each tour is less about history and more about connection — reminding those who visit that courage, like the cowboy code, is a universal language.
To present the award, the PBR welcomed Bob Pennington, a Horse Soldier Bourbon co-founder and retired chief warrant officer who himself made history as part of Operational Detachment Alpha-595 — the Green Beret team that mounted America’s first mission in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks. Riding horses through unforgiving terrain against a force nearly ten times their size, Pennington and his brothers in arms wrote a modern chapter of the cowboy code with real horses and real grit. Today, his story lives on in books, films and the very Horse Soldier Bourbon that now partners with PBR to honor lives like Donovan’s.
Donovan’s service has never been confined to uniforms or titles. Beyond his work at the World Trade Center, he has volunteered tirelessly for both civilian and military causes. He and his wife, Anne, developed leadership training for their local Scout troop. He has lent his time to military nonprofits like the Wounded Warrior Project, Tunnels to Towers Foundation, Veterans and Athletes United and Badger 6, among many others. He remains a member of the VFW and American Legion, marching in color guards and carrying forward traditions of remembrance. His reach spans from local communities to international efforts — whether through humanitarian construction overseas or through volunteer work that ensures every soldier and every family is heard and seen.
On Saturday night, as the lights dimmed and the spotlight landed, the arena shifted and Donovan was seen. The energy was no longer about scores on the board or seconds on the clock; it was about gratitude. Families stood with hands over their hearts, riders removed their hats, and fans rose to their feet in applause that seemed to echo all the way to the America’s Response Monument. It was a moment of collective recognition — not just of Donovan’s achievements, but of the ideals he represents.
Donovan’s story is proof that the cowboy spirit isn’t confined to the chutes. It lives in those who choose courage over comfort, integrity over ease, and service over self. His career, his mission of remembrance and his volunteer work are a testament to what it means to Be Cowboy: standing tall, leading with honor, and never forgetting those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
From all of us at PBR and Horse Soldier Bourbon, thank you, Colonel Michael Donovan, for reminding us what it truly means to Be Cowboy.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media