Editing Kris Kristofferson (section)

=== 1936–1965: early years and military service ===
Kristoffer Kristofferson was born in [[Brownsville, Texas]], the oldest of three children born to Mary Ann (née Ashbrook) and Henry Kristofferson, a [[United States Army Air Corps]] officer (later a [[major general]] in the [[United States Air Force]]).<ref name="Times, San Mateo">{{cite news |title=Death claims famed pilot |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52168909/henry-christopher-kristofferson/ |access-date=May 26, 2020 |work=The Times |date=January 4, 1971 |location=San Mateo, California |page=3 |quote=Henry C. Kristofferson, 65, famed pilot and former division manager for Pan American World Airways when he was a resident of San Mateo, died... two sons, Kraig and Kris, who has recently won fame as a folk music and country-western singer. |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228010226/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52168909/henry-christopher-kristofferson/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="PCM"/> Henry later worked as a manager for [[Saudi Aramco]] after retiring from the service.<ref name="AllMusicBio">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kris-kristofferson-mn0000774588|title=Kris Kristofferson biography|last=Collar|first=Matt|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> During Kristofferson's childhood, his father encouraged him to pursue a military career.<ref name="oconnor">{{cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/kris-kristofferson-an-outlaw-at-80-20160606 |title=Kris Kristofferson Following his passions – wherever they may lead |publisher=dallasnews.com – Archives |first=Colleen |last=O'Connor |access-date=February 2, 2013 |archive-date=June 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622192919/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/kris-kristofferson-an-outlaw-at-80-20160606 |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Kristofferson moved around frequently as a youth because of his father's military service, and the family settled in [[San Mateo, California]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Zompolis|first=Gregory N.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Y4A9uWMrAYC|title=Images of America, San Mateo|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2004|isbn=0738529567|location=Charleston, SC|pages=60–65}}</ref> He attended [[San Mateo High School]], where he graduated in 1954. At age 17, Kristofferson took a summer job with a [[dredging]] contractor on [[Wake Island]] in the western Pacific Ocean. He called it "the hardest job I ever had".<ref>interview on Hawaii Public Radio, June 2, 2011</ref>

Kristofferson went to [[Pomona College]] in Claremont, California, as a literature major. He studied under [[Frederick Sontag]], whom he considers an important influence in his life.<ref name="PCM">{{cite journal|url=http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/PCMWin04/FSkristofferson.shtml |title=Acts of Will |journal=Pomona College Magazine |issue=Winter 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907031352/http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/pcmwin04/FSkristofferson.shtml |archive-date=September 7, 2013 }}</ref> His early writing included prize-winning essays: "The Rock" and "Gone Are the Days" were published in ''[[The Atlantic|The Atlantic Monthly]]''. These stories touch on the roots of Kristofferson's passions and concerns. "The Rock" is about a geographical feature resembling the form of a woman, while the latter was about a racial incident.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kriskristoffersonfan.com/sample-page/biography/kris-kristofferson-short-stories/|title=Kris Kristofferson Short Stories|website=Kris Kristofferson by Fans, for Fans|language=en-US|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228011429/https://kriskristoffersonfan.com/sample-page/biography/kris-kristofferson-short-stories/|url-status=live}}</ref> During this time, Kristofferson worked in various construction jobs and as a firefighter.<ref name="PCM"/> He appeared in the March 31, 1958, issue of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' for his achievements in collegiate [[rugby union]], [[American football]], and track and field.<ref name="sipobck">{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1958/03/31/670415/kristoffer-kristofferson |magazine=Sports Illustrated |title=Kristoffer Kristofferson |agency=(A Pat on the Back) |date=March 31, 1958 |page=80 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001041031/https://www.si.com/vault/1958/03/31/670415/kristoffer-kristofferson |url-status=live }}</ref> He  and his classmates also revived the [[Claremont Colleges]] Rugby Club, and it remains a Southern California rugby institution. Kristofferson graduated in 1958, earning a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree, ''[[Latin honors#Distinctions|summa cum laude]]'', in [[literature]]. He was elected to the [[Phi Beta Kappa]] society his junior year.<ref name="PCM"/>

Also in 1958, Kristofferson was awarded a [[Rhodes Scholarship]] to the [[University of Oxford]] in Oxford, England,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholars-volunteers/rhodes-scholar-database/ |title=Kristofferson entry on Rhodes Trust database |access-date=April 24, 2022 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701093733/https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholars-volunteers/rhodes-scholar-database/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> studying at [[Merton College, Oxford|Merton College]].<ref name="MCreg">{{cite book|editor1-last=Levens|editor1-first=R.G.C.|title=Merton College Register 1900–1964|date=1964|publisher=Basil Blackwell|location=Oxford|page=505}}</ref> While performing his own songs there, Kristofferson signed with [[Larry Parnes]], best known for his work with [[Tommy Steele]]. Parnes was working to sell Kristofferson as "a Yank at Oxford" to the British public; Kristofferson was willing to accept that promotional approach if it helped his singing career, which he hoped would enable him to progress toward his goal of becoming a novelist.<ref>Schneider, Jason [https://archive.today/20120709062416/http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=137&csid2=9&fid1=41445 "Kris Kristofferson: the Pilgrim's Progress"] ''[[Exclaim!]]'' October 2009.</ref> He recorded for The Rank Organisation's Top Rank Records label as Kris Carson, but this early phase was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohboy.com/krisbio.html |title=Kris Kristofferson Bio |publisher=Oh Boy Records |access-date=April 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105011304/http://www.ohboy.com/krisbio.html |archive-date=November 5, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="AllMusicBio"/> In 1960, Kristofferson graduated with a [[B.Phil.]] in [[English literature]].<ref name="MCreg" /><ref>[http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/pcmwin04/FSkristofferson.shtml] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907031352/http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/pcmwin04/FSkristofferson.shtml|date=September 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/kris-kristofferson/biography/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226121614/http://www.cmt.com/artists/kris-kristofferson/biography |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 26, 2013 |title=Kris Kristofferson Bio |publisher=CMT |access-date=August 26, 2015}}</ref>

In 1961, he married his longtime girlfriend, Frances "Fran" Mavia Beer.<ref name="MCreg" /> Also in 1961, Kristofferson joined the [[United States Army]] and was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]]. He attended [[U.S. Army Ranger School]] and completed helicopter pilot training at [[Fort Rucker, Alabama]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/2538793/sports-heroes-who-served-singer-songwriter-actor-kris-kristofferson-is-also-an/|title=Sports Heroes Who Served: Singer, Songwriter, Actor Kris Kristofferson Is Also an Army Veteran|first=David|last=Vergun|website=Defense.gov|date=March 23, 2021|access-date=June 17, 2022|archive-date=September 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930021453/https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/2538793/sports-heroes-who-served-singer-songwriter-actor-kris-kristofferson-is-also-an/|url-status=live}}</ref> He relocated Beer and their newborn daughter to [[West Germany]], where he served as a member of the [[8th Infantry Division (United States)|8th Infantry Division]].<ref>{{Cite book|title = Kristofferson: The Wild American|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=FILwohIvXCMC&pg=PT70|publisher = Omnibus Press|date = December 17, 2009|isbn = 9780857121097|first = Stephen|last = Miller|access-date = January 2, 2022|archive-date = September 30, 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240930021525/https://books.google.com/books?id=FILwohIvXCMC&pg=PT70#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="AllMusicBio"/> During this period, Kristofferson was promoted to the rank of [[Captain (United States O-3)|captain]]  and resumed his music career, forming a band to play at service clubs. It was at this point that he met [[Marijohn Wilkin]], the aunt of his platoon commander.<ref name="AllMusicBio"/> In 1965, after his tour in West Germany ended, Kristofferson briefly taught English literature at the [[United States Military Academy]] in West Point, New York.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/kris-kristoffersons-rock-and-rules |title=Kris Kristofferson's Rock And Rules &#124; Clash Music Exclusive Interview |publisher=Clashmusic.com |date=July 27, 2010 |access-date=January 5, 2012 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232841/http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/kris-kristoffersons-rock-and-rules |url-status=live }}</ref>