High Finance: The Quiet Texan

Six spirited bidders turned up last week when Western Bancorporation, a big holding company, carried out antitrust orders to sell off California's First Western Bank & Trust. Of the six, a little-known Texas insurance man named Troy Victor Post, 56, showed a clear and present advantage. Said a Bancorporation director: "Post's offer had something unique about it—money." Where most of the bidders offered complicated deferred-payment deals. Post unpocketed $69.5 million in ready cash. He quickly got First Western, which has assets of $612 million.

Big-wheeling deals are a habit with this shy Dallas millionaire, who in rimless glasses looks like...