AUG. 1980 – Two rows of over 50 motorcycles from panheads to knuckleheads, 74s and three–wheelers, lined the lower yard for the 1980 Motorcycle Show. Providing the entertainment was the Bay Area country-bluegrass band Good ol’ Persons and the Norton Buffalo Band, among others.
AUG. 1980 – The vocational landscape gardening class is announcing room for ten more cons interested in signing up. The landscape program was started at San Quentin in April 1953.
AUG. 1980 – A con exercising on the North seg. roof area was stabbed in the neck once with a pencil. He was treated and returned to his cell. There are no suspects.
AUG. 1980 – Inmates with pay numbers have been given a pay raise. A 15 percent increase will kick in for the months of July and Aug., and after that it will be 7.5 percent.
SEPT. 1980 – An inmate has died of unknown causes at the prison hospital. John Wakefield, 46, died Aug. 29 after being admitted to the hospital the previous day complaining of weakness. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as pancreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas.
SEPT. 1980 – Approximately 75 demonstrators marched in front of S.Q.’s East Gate to commemorate the death of George Jackson nine years ago. Jackson, an inmate activist and author, was one of six people who died Aug. 21, 1971 during a failed escape attempt.
SEPT. 1980 – Over 500 convicts gathered on the lower yard for a Labor Day musical extravaganza. The show featured exotic dancers and an interesting mix of musical performers.
SEPT. 1980 – Four inmates were hit with birdshot when gunmen on the C-Section yard fired seven shots to break up a fight between two inmates, according to prison spokesman Mike Madding. They were treated at the prison hospital and released back to C-Section.
