Jim Quillen Inmate #586
Alcatraz
(Note: Mr Quillen has passed away. R.I.P. Jim...)

This dude may look harmless but he was hell on wheels in 1942.

Jim Quillen was incarcerated on Alcatraz from 1942 to 1952. He served 10 years and one day on "The Rock". He served approximately 18 years in various prisons. He escaped from San Quentin prison while serving time for armed robbery and then commited a series of crimes. He was finally captured by J. Edgar Hoover's F.B.I. and sentenced to Alcatraz.

While Jim was at Alcatraz he attempted a wild escape through a tunnel with steam pipes. He was caught and thrown in the "hole". He was also present during the 1946 escape attempt when three convicts tried to escape and shot several guards. The military were called in they basically bombed the hell out of the prison until they took control of it again.

Mr Quillen reformed himself and became a productive member of society. He is a radiologist. He even received a FULL Presidential Pardon for all of his crimes.

It was really cool that Jim had on a T-Shirt with his Alcatraz mug shot on it. Danny was afraid to ask him if he could buy it. I mean, he is reformed and all, but why risk pissing him off?

Actually Mr. Quillen was super nice and signed a copy of his book called "Alcatraz From Inside". It is a heck of a good book. With Hollywood putting out so many movies that are just TOTAL CRAP about Alcatraz, it was cool to see how it really was. This book is definitely worth looking for.