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Billy Penn has already published high school photos and memories from five of the mayoral candidates. We have a couple of bonus pictures on this Throwback Thursday, too. Before Mayor Michael Nutter and Council President Darrell Clarke became two of the most powerful men in Philadelphia — and occasional frenemies — they attended St. Joseph’s Prep and Edison High School, respectively. Neither of them, according to their yearbooks, were involved with student council in high school, but both played football. Take a look at these two during their glory years:

Darrell Clarke

Edison High School, 1970

photo (45)

Clarke actually attended Strawberry Mansion High School, too, but graduated from Edison. He told the Daily News he played defensive back in high school and thought for a time he’d be good enough to play in college. Clarke, though, ended up attending the Community College of Philadelphia.

Darrell Clarke FB

Michael Nutter

St. Joseph’s Prep, 1975

Nutter HS

In high school, Nutter was thinking the ideal path for him would be medical school, but one of his favorite subjects, American Government, illustrated an inkling toward his political career. He also participated in the Black Students League and took seriously the Jesuits’ commitment to service at his high school.

As noted in the earlier post about the mayoral candidates, Nutter had a teammate in 1974 who would go on to join him in city government: Jim Kenney.

Kenney football

And by the way, WTF was up with the massive bow-ties the kids were sporting at St. Joe’s?

Nutter Kenney

Mark Dent is a reporter/curator at BillyPenn. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where he covered the Jerry Sandusky scandal, Penn State football and the Penn State administration. His...