Ken Kesey was born on September 17, 1935 in La Junta, Colorado. He attended the University of Oregon and graduated with a degree in speech and communication in 1957. He enrolled in the creative writing program at Stanford University in 1958, where he developed lifelong friendships with a number of authors. It was during this time he participated in army experiments involving LSD and guinea pigs. These experiences inspired him to write his first novel. In 1962, Kesey published his first novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. This novel was used by teacher and academic users all across the world. Many people ask, who is Kesey? He was a novelist, artist, explorer, entertainer, teacher, and most importantly a father. His son, Jed, passed away in 1984 due to a motor vehicle accident. When born, he was given the name Kenneth Elton Kesey. He was born into a big family, started by his parents Fred and Geneva Kesey. An athlete who excelled in sports, Ken prospered at wrestling in high school as well at the college he attended, the University of Oregon. Although he adored movies, films and reading, Ken showed promise as a writer throughout his young, academic career. While at the University of Oregon, Ken sought out to find his childhood sweetheart, Norma Haxby (Aka “Faye). He married her not to long after, and they lived together for the rest of their …show more content…
The year of 1984 was when his beloved son, Jed, died from a motor vehicle accident. Although Kesey was devastated, he persuited his dream of writing. He also made a number of trips with the second version of Furthur—including one to England and another to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in Cleveland—and performed his musical play Twister to numerous audiences on the West Coast. When he wasn’t traveling, performing, or writing, Ken spent his time working on the farm or enjoying the company of his extensive family and friends in the Eugene, OR