Early life Kesey was born in 1935 in La Junta, Colorado, to dairy farmers Geneva (née Smith) and Frederick A. Kesey.Lehmann-Haupt, Christopher. "Ken Kesey, Author of 'Cuckoo's Nest,' Who Defined the Psychedelic Era, Dies at 66", The New York Times (November 11, 2001). Retrieved February 21, 2008. When Kesey was 10 years old, the family moved to Springfield, Oregon in 1946. Kesey was a champion wrestler in high school and college in the weight division, and almost qualified to be on the Olympic team, but a serious shoulder injury halted his wrestling career. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1953. An avid reader and filmgoer, the young Kesey took John Wayne, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Zane Grey as his role models (later naming a son Zane) and toyed with magic, ventriloquism and hypnotism.Macdonald, Gina, and Andrew Macdonald. "Ken Kesey". Magill's Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition (2007): Literary Reference Center. EBSCO.
Early life Kesey was born in 1935 in La Junta Colorado to dairy farmers Geneva (née Smith) and Frederick A KeseyLehmann-Haupt Christopher "Ken Kesey Author of 'Cuckoo's Nest' Who Defined the Psychedelic Era Dies at 66" The New York Times (November 11 2001) Retrieved February 21 2008 When Kesey was 10 years old the family moved to Springfield Oregon in 1946 Kesey was a champion wrestler in high school and college in the weight division and almost qualified to be on the Olympic team but a serious shoulder injury halted his wrestling career He graduated from Springfield High School in 1953 An avid reader and filmgoer the young Kesey took John Wayne Edgar Rice Burroughs and Zane Grey as his role models (later naming a son Zane) and toyed with magic ventriloquism and hypnotismMacdonald Gina and Andrew Macdonald "Ken Kesey" Magill's Survey of American Literature Revised Edition (2007) Literary Reference Center EBSCO