The Two Women Who Saved True West

June 30, 2019
   It was Fred Nolan who first informed me that behind every successful man, is a "surprised woman." That's clever in a Brit kind of way, but I discovered another side to this bromide when we bought a certain magazine, twenty years ago this September.

True West staff at Clantonville, 2000

   My original two partners (standing behind me, above) and myself, put up $250,000 each. We quickly burned through that money and one of the partners bailed. After another $200,000 infusion failed to turn the boat, the second partner left, and soon enough we were out of money with a payroll in two days. It looked very, very bleak.

   Two people stuck with me.

Carole Compton Glenn and Kathy Sue Radina

   Both put their houses up for loans and we somehow, some way managed to squeak by.

    Both women have interesting back stories. Kathy Sue survived teaching eighth grade math and she once dated the "Sexiest Man Alive" (Nick Nolte) and she did her share of hobnobbing with rock stars when she was with the legendary "Voice of God" William Edward Compton.

Kathy, second from left, standing next to

Roger Daltry of The Who and that's William Edward, bottom left.

   Carole (William Edward's sister) could also be found in the company of hipsters and shakers.

Carole Compton, top row, center, seen here with the crew from Radio Free Phoenix (KCAC) 1971.

   So, the next time you pick up a True West magazine, you should definitely give thanks to its continued existence because of two strong women who stepped forward when everyone else ran away. They stepped into the breech and backed a kid from Kingman who will forever be grateful to both of them.

   "Behind some successful men, stands a woman, or two, who have his back."

—Old Vaquero Saying

“Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water.” 

—Eleanor Roosevelt