May 23, 1980 – Three cons were assaulted and stabbed in what prison authorities are calling a racially motivated attack. One suspect was nabbed, and three prison-made knives were confiscated at the scene of the incident. The prison was placed on lockdown.
July 4, 1980 – A prisoner who escaped from a minimum security area of San Quentin Prison was recaptured in Lovelock, Nevada. Donald Frank Bonita, 44, walked away from his job in the prison hobby shop June 21. The hobby shop is located just outside the main gate.
Sept. 5, 1980 – Ten shots were fired to break up a fight between seven cons on the C Section yard. Seven prisoners were treated at the prison hospital for birdshot wounds. The incident was considered nonracial.
November 14, 1980 – The San Quentin Pirates took an undefeated record into their football game with the also undefeated team from Alameda Naval Air Station, only to lose 28-4.
August 14, 1981 – A San Quentin Correctional Officer was arrested on suspicion of bringing drugs into the prison when a vial of what appeared to be cocaine was found in his car. John Taylor, 32, of Vallejo, had been employed at the prison for 11 months.
November 13, 1981 – Joan Baez, Norton Buffalo, Nightfood and High Noon appeared at the annual Bike Show held Nov. 8 on the lower yard. Approximately 30 bikes were on view for the show. Another 25 bikes and a parts truck were turned away at the main gate for various reasons. (Update Oct. 2009: Norton Buffalo, long-time harmonica player for the Steve Miller Band, passed away after a battle with cancer.)
