Olin G. Blackwell
Blackwell in 1961
Warden of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
In office
1961–1963
Preceded byPaul J. Madigan
Succeeded byPrison closed
Personal details
Born
Olin Guy Blackwell

(1915-02-15)February 15, 1915
Georgia, United States
DiedMarch 7, 1986(1986-03-07) (aged 71)
Hart County, Georgia, U.S.
OccupationPrison warden

Olin Guy Blackwell (February 15, 1915 – March 7, 1986) was an American lawman who was the fourth and final warden of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, which was situated on Alcatraz Island, California. Associate Warden to Paul J. Madigan from April 1959,[1] Blackwell served as warden of Alcatraz at its most difficult time from 1961 to 1963, when it was facing closure as a decaying prison and financing problems and at the time of the June 1962 escape. At that time, he was on vacation in Lake Berryessa in Napa County, California, and he didn't believe the men could have survived the waters and made it to shore.[2]

The prison closed on March 21, 1963. Blackwell was considered to have been the least strict warden of Alcatraz, perhaps in part due to him having been a heavy drinker and smoker, nicknamed "Gypsy" and known as "Blackie" to his friends.[1] He was said to have been an excellent marksman. He had earlier served as Associate Warden of Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary.[1] He died on March 7, 1986, in Hart County Georgia.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Jerry (27 January 2011). The Fading Voices of Alcatraz. AuthorHouse. p. 109. ISBN 978-1-4567-1487-1. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  2. ^ "Alcatraz Archive". SFgenealogy.org. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2013-05-16.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Person Details for Olin G Blackwell, "Georgia Death Index, 1933-1998" — FamilySearch.org". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-05-16.


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