KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Saturday night inside T-Mobile Center, as the Kansas City Outlaws defended home dirt and the crowd rose in a thunder of cheers, the spotlight shifted from the chutes to a hero of a different kind. The Be Cowboy Award, presented by Horse Soldier Bourbon, honored Arthur “Art” Fillmore, a Vietnam veteran, civic leader and lifelong advocate for those who have worn the uniform, for his extraordinary service to veterans and his community.
The award was presented by Mark Nutsch, co-founder of Horse Soldier Bourbon, retired Green Beret and leader of the legendary Operational Detachment Alpha 595 — the “Horse Soldiers.” Nutsch led the first U.S. Special Forces mission into Afghanistan on horseback following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, an operation that has become a cornerstone of American military history and inspired the film 12 Strong. His presence in Kansas City, standing shoulder to shoulder with another veteran of valor, symbolized a powerful bond between warriors and cowboys — both guided by courage, loyalty and service beyond self.
As Nutsch introduced the honoree, he reminded the crowd that being a cowboy isn’t about wearing a hat, buckle or boots. “Anybody can Be Cowboy,” he said. “It’s about living up to the values that define grit, honor and integrity — the same values that men like Art Fillmore have carried every day of their lives.”
For Art Fillmore, those values were forged long before Saturday night’s applause. A proud Missourian, Fillmore graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1968 with a degree in political science. Within months, he would trade his cap and gown for a helmet and flak jacket, serving four years in the U.S. Army during one of the most difficult chapters in American military history.
As an Artillery Forward Observer for “C” Company, 1/27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, Fillmore led his men through intense combat during the Cambodian invasion of 1970. He earned multiple Bronze Stars, Air Medals and the Army Commendation Medal for his leadership and bravery under fire — acts that saved lives and defined his reputation as a soldier’s soldier.
After his honorable discharge in 1972, Fillmore continued to serve, just in a different way. He went on to earn his law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law, graduating Order of the Coif in 1975, and began building a legal career marked by excellence and service. But his passion for helping others — especially veterans — never wavered.
Throughout his life, Fillmore has devoted himself to ensuring that those who serve receive the care, respect and dignity they deserve when they return home. As chairman of the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of War Veterans — a position he has held since 1992 — Fillmore has been instrumental in advising national policy and shaping the programs that support generations of service members transitioning back into civilian life.
Locally, his impact has been even more profound. Fillmore fought for the funding and construction of St. Michael’s Veterans Center in Kansas City, a place where homeless and at-risk veterans can rebuild their lives. More than just a housing facility, St. Michael’s provides wraparound care — from medical access and counseling to job placement — giving veterans the tools to find stability and purpose again. His leadership turned a once-ambitious idea into a model for veteran reintegration that has changed lives across the Midwest.
Fillmore has been at the heart of so many of Kansas City’s most meaningful causes. He doesn’t just talk about helping veterans — he makes sure it happens.
His list of honors is as long as it is well earned. He has received National Service Awards from the Vietnam Veterans of America, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and the Association of the United States Army, among others. He’s served as chairman for Heart to Heart International, the Kansas Women’s Business Center and continues to lead the Heart of America Stand Down, an initiative that provides critical services and resources to homeless veterans.
In 2013, Ingram’s Magazine named him one of “50 Missourians You Should Know,” and in 2021, he received the prestigious Colonel Roger H.C. Donlon Patriot Award — an honor reserved for those who have demonstrated exceptional patriotism, leadership and devotion to country.
Even with a résumé that spans decades of service, Fillmore remains grounded in his purpose. His philosophy is simple: do what’s right, serve those who served and leave your community better than you found it.
“For Art, it’s not about the medals or the titles. It’s about standing up for the people who stood up for our country.”
Now the chairman and CEO of NxGen Electronics, Inc., and a devoted husband to his wife, Blair, Fillmore continues to champion veteran causes both nationally and locally. Between them, the couple share seven children and four grandchildren — a growing family that reflects the same values of hard work, resilience and compassion that have guided his life.
When Mark Nutsch presented the Be Cowboy Award, he spoke not just as a soldier, but as a fellow Kansan who understands what it means to lead with courage and humility. Art’s story reminds us that being a cowboy isn’t about where you come from — it’s about what you stand for. He’s proof that when you live with honor, the impact lasts far beyond yourself.
The Kansas City crowd responded with a standing ovation, honoring not only Fillmore but the generations of veterans he has inspired through his advocacy and leadership. For one night, amid the roar of bulls and the rush of adrenaline, PBR fans witnessed a different kind of courage — the lifelong kind that never quits.
From all of us at PBR and Horse Soldier Bourbon, thank you, Art Fillmore, for reminding us what it truly means to Be Cowboy.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media