Editing Randolph Scott (section)

==Early years==
Scott was born January 23, 1898, in [[Orange County, Virginia]],<ref name="NYTobit">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/03/obituaries/randolph-scott-is-dead-at-89-laconic-cowboy-film-actor.html|title=RANDOLPH SCOTT IS DEAD AT 89; LACONIC COWBOY-FILM ACTOR|date=March 3, 1987|work=The New York Times|page=D-27}}</ref> and reared in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], the second of six children born to parents of Scottish descent. His father was George Grant Scott, born in [[Franklin, Virginia]], the first person licensed as a [[certified public accountant]] (CPA) in North Carolina. His mother was Lucille Crane Scott, born in [[Luray, Virginia|Luray]], Virginia, a member of a wealthy North Carolina family.<ref name="Nott p. 7">Nott 2004, p. 7.</ref>

Because of his family's financial status, Randolph was able to attend private schools, such as [[Woodberry Forest School]]. From an early age, Scott developed and displayed his athleticism, excelling in [[american football|football]], baseball, horse racing, and swimming.<ref name="Nott p. 7"/>

===World War I===
In April 1917, the United States entered [[World War I]]. In July, Scott joined a unit of the [[North Carolina Army National Guard|North Carolina National Guard]]. He was trained as an [[artillery observer]] and earned promotion to [[Corporal#United States|corporal]] in October 1917 and [[Sergeant#United States|sergeant]] in February 1918.<ref name="Hartwell">{{cite web|last=Hartwell|first=Joe|date=January 30, 2004|title=The History of the 2nd Trench Mortar Battalion, C.A.C. During WWI|url=https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~cacunithistories/military/2nd%20TM%20BN.html|access-date=June 20, 2021|website=Defeating the Hun: History of United States Army Coast Artillery Corps During World War One|publisher=Joe Hartwell}}</ref> In May 1918, Scott entered active duty at [[Fort Monroe]], [[Virginia]], as a member of the 2nd Trench Mortar Battalion.<ref name="Nott p. 8">Nott 2004, p. 8.</ref> The battalion arrived in France in June 1918, and took part in combat with the U.S. [[IV Corps (United States)|IV Corps]] in the [[Toul]] sector and [[Thiaucourt-Regniéville|Thiaucourt]] zone. After the [[Armistice of November 11, 1918]], ended the war, the 2nd TM Battalion took part in the post-war occupation of Germany as part of U.S. [[VI Corps (United States)|VI Corps]].<ref name="Hartwell"/>

Following the armistice, Scott enrolled in the artillery [[Officer Candidate School (United States Army)|Officer Candidate School]], which was located in [[Saumur]].<ref name="Nott p. 8">Nott 2004, p. 8.</ref> He received his commission as a [[Second lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]] of [[Field Artillery Branch (United States)|Field Artillery]] in May 1919 and departed for the United States soon afterwards. He arrived in New York City on June 6 and reported to [[Camp Mills]], where he received his honorable discharge on June 13.<ref name="Hartwell"/> Scott made use of his wartime experience in his acting career, including his training in [[horsemanship]] and the use of [[firearms]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bandel |first=Jessica A. |date=February 9, 2017 |title=Portraits of War: Randolph Scott |url=https://www.ncdcr.gov/blog/2017/02/09/portraits-war-randolph-scott |work=NCDCR.gov |publisher=North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources |location=Raleigh, NC}}</ref>

===After World War I===
With his military career over Scott continued his education at [[Georgia Institute of Technology|Georgia Tech]], where he was a member of the [[Kappa Alpha Order]] and set his sights on becoming an all-American football player. However a back injury prevented him from achieving this goal.<ref name="Thomas">Thomas 1981 {{page needed|date=July 2016}}</ref> Scott then transferred to the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina]], where he majored in [[textile engineering]] and manufacturing.<ref name="Nott p. 8"/> He eventually dropped out and went to work as an accountant in the textile firm where his father, a CPA, was employed.<ref>Ringgold, Gene. "Randolph Scott: Everyone's Idea of a Southern Gentleman". ''Films in Review''. 1972.</ref>