THE EARLY YEARS

John and Clarence grew up as poor farmers in Ruskin, Florida, who were often made fun of by other children. Their mother loved her family very much, and did her best to spare her children from the world's cruelties, but prejudice in the community ran deep, and the brothers often faced bullying and fights with their fellow classmates because they were poor. Even the teachers held a low view of the Anglin family, which only fueled

John's and Clarence's anger, along with their older brother, Alfred. As a result, the three often got into trouble, and soon found themselves picked up by the police for skipping school and shoplifting at local stores. They also discovered the love of swimming at the Little Manatee River not far from their home.

John and Clarence were arrested multiple times and sent to a reform school for chronic truancy, which broke their mother's heart time and again.

JOHN ANGLIN

Born in 1930 in Donalsonville, GA, John (left) is the 5th of 13 children, and the brains behind the Alcatraz escape. James “Whitey” Bulger said of him, “The first time I saw John Anglin walk across the yard, he reminded me of Steve McQueen.” Born into a poor farming family, the skills he learned from hard-manual labor would prove invaluable in the planning and implementation of the escape. In effect, he could make something out of nothing.

CLARENCE ANGLIN

While John Anglin was considered the levelheaded one in the family, his younger brother, Clarence, born in 1931, was the opposite. His quick temper and inclination toward taking risks caused him trouble countless times in his youth. When he was in his teens, Clarence started stealing cars and breaking into houses. He spent time in a number of Florida prisons, including the notorious Florida Industrial School for Boys in Marianna. In all, Clarence escaped from seven jails and prisons, one time swimming thirty miles down a river.