Editing John Glenn (section)

== Early life and education ==
John Herschel Glenn Jr. was born on July 18, 1921, in Cambridge, Ohio, the son of John Herschel Glenn Sr. (1895–1966), who worked for a plumbing firm, and Clara Teresa Glenn ({{nee|Sproat}}; 1897–1971), a teacher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gw.geneanet.org/tdowling?lang=en&n=glenn&oc=1&p=john+herschel|title=John Glenn's parents|publisher=Geneanet.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum|access-date=January 30, 2017|url=https://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKWHP-ST-A13-30-62.aspx|title=John Glenn's parents|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221105207/https://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKWHP-ST-A13-30-62.aspx|archive-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.osu.edu/sites/archives/glenn/collection/audiovisuals/certificates.htm |title=John Glenn Archives, Audiovisuals Subgroup, Series 3: Certificates |publisher=Ohio State University |access-date=August 30, 2013
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221034049/http://library.osu.edu/projects/john-glenn-collection/audiovisuals/certificates.htm
|archive-date=December 21, 2014}}</ref> His parents had married shortly before John Sr., a member of the [[American Expeditionary Force]], left for the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] during [[World War I]]. The family moved to [[New Concord, Ohio]], soon after his birth, and his father started his own business, the Glenn Plumbing Company.{{sfn|Burgess|2015|pp=43–46}}{{sfn|Kupperberg|2003|pp=15, 35}} Glenn Jr. was only a toddler when he met [[Annie Glenn|Anna Margaret (Annie) Castor]], whom he would later marry. The two would not be able to recall a time when they did not know each other.{{sfn|Burgess|2015|pp=43–46}} He first flew in an airplane with his father when he was eight years old. He became fascinated by flight and built model airplanes from [[balsa wood]] kits.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=13–16}} Along with his adopted sister Jean,{{sfn|Burgess|2015|pp=43–46}} he attended New Concord Elementary School.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=25}} He washed cars and sold [[rhubarb]] to earn money to buy a bicycle, after which he took a job delivering ''[[The Columbus Dispatch]]'' newspaper.{{sfn|Burgess|2015|pp=46–47}} He was a member of the [[Boy Rangers of America|Ohio Rangers]], an organization similar to the [[Cub Scouting (Boy Scouts of America)|Cub Scouts]].{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=24–29}} His boyhood home in New Concord has been [[Building restoration|restored]] as a [[historic house museum]] and education center.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24698180/john_glenn_for_kees/|via=Newspapers.com|title=John Glenn Boyhood Home and Museum|newspaper=The Times Recorder|location=Zanesville, Ohio|page=28|date=June 11, 2008}}</ref>

Glenn attended [[John Glenn High School (New Concord, Ohio)|New Concord High School]], where he played on the [[Varsity team|varsity]] [[American football|football]] team as a [[Center (gridiron football)|center]] and [[linebacker]]. He also made the varsity [[basketball]] and [[tennis]] teams and was involved with Hi-Y, a junior branch of the [[YMCA]].{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=47}} After graduating in 1939, Glenn entered [[Muskingum University|Muskingum College]] (now Muskingum University), where he studied [[chemistry]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23180326/the_newsmessenger/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Off-Campus Credits for Glenn|agency=Associated Press|date=October 4, 1983|page=9|newspaper=The News-Messenger|location=Fremont, Ohio}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23182167/lancaster_eaglegazette/|title=Glenn Plans Launch Of Big Venture Where It All Began|last1=Hannah|first1=James|agency=Associated Press|via=Newspapers.com|newspaper=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette|location=Lancaster, Ohio |date=March 29, 1983|page=12}}</ref> joined the Stag Club fraternity,<ref>{{cite news|agency=PR Newswire|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/1963-muskingum-grad-to-conduct-solar-experiments-aboard-oct-29-shuttle-flight-with-muskie-john-glenn-on-board-77024107.html|title=Muskingum Grad to Conduct Solar Experiments Aboard Oct. 29 Shuttle Flight with Muskie John Glenn on Board|date=October 16, 1998|access-date=September 24, 2015|publisher=Muskingum College|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925093230/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/1963-muskingum-grad-to-conduct-solar-experiments-aboard-oct-29-shuttle-flight-with-muskie-john-glenn-on-board-77024107.html|archive-date=September 25, 2015}}</ref> and played on the football team.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=58–59}} Annie majored in music with minors in secretarial studies and physical education and competed on the swimming and [[volleyball]] teams, graduating in 1942.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=58–59}} Glenn earned a [[private pilot license]] and a physics course credit for free through the [[Civilian Pilot Training Program]] in 1941.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=60}} He did not complete his senior year in residence or take a proficiency exam, both required by the school for its [[Bachelor of Science]] degree.{{r|NewLondonDay}}{{efn|Muskingum awarded his [[bachelor's degree]] in 1962, after Glenn's [[Mercury Atlas 6|Mercury space flight]].<ref name="NewLondonDay" />}}