The Kids Return

true west posse bob boze bell true west magazine — L-r.: Paul Andrew Hutton, BBB, Buckeye Blake and Drew Gomber sitting at the foot of the window where the Kid shot down his guard, Bob Olinger, who died at our feet in this macabre photo. One of the dudes in this photo is about to be named the 2021 True Westerner of the Year.
– Ken Amorosano –

This issue marks the return of two of my favorite “Kids.” One is the legendary outlaw who sparked in me a lifetime of research on his short and violent life, and the other is the legendary scholar who, so far, has had a long and peaceful life, interrupted by eloquent tirades against the machine (Academia with a capital A).

Our creative designers and editors worked overtime to process and complete my third and final book on Billy the Kid. Check out a few samples of the book’s new artwork on pages 40-42.

And then, back to the other Kid—there’s the Top Secret Writer who is about to be named the 2021 True Westerner of the Year. Traditionally, we announce the winner in January, but since he has the cover story, “The Forgotten Founding Father,” on pages 20-27, we thought we’d give you an early heads-up.Here are a few of his accomplishments:

He’s won four Spurs and he delivered O.J’s baby in Naked Gun 2½.
This issue marks his 12th cover story, 10 since I took ownership.
His last cover story for True West was November 2018—“When the West Was True.”
His next book is The Undiscovered Country: The Epic Story of the Opening of the American West to be published by Dutton/Random House in early 2022. It is a history of the American frontier from the French and Indian War to 1900.
The Billy book is, in fact, dedicated to him. He has been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement.

Here’s looking at you, Kid!