John Billion American politician Date of Birth: 04.03.1939 Country: USA

1. Childhood and Education
2. Medical Career and Military Service
3. Political Involvement

Childhood and Education

John Billion was born into a large family of eight siblings in the Nord End neighborhood of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Upon graduating high school in 1957, he pursued higher education at Loras College in Iowa, earning a bachelor's degree in 1960. In August of the same year, he enrolled in Loyola University Chicago, where he obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1964.

Medical Career and Military Service

After completing an internship at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois, Billion embarked on an orthopedic surgery practice. In 1969, he enlisted in the United States Air Force as a contract surgeon, serving until 1971 when he retired with the rank of Major. Upon his return to civilian life, he resumed his orthopedic surgery practice and became actively involved in South Dakota's medical community, holding a position on the South Dakota Orthopedic Surgical Council from 1971 to 1997.

Political Involvement

Billion's civic engagement in Sioux Falls led to his election to the state legislature from 1993 to 1996, where he also served as the Vice Chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party. In 2006, he ran as the Democratic candidate for Governor but lost to Republican candidate Mike Rounds by 32% to 62%. Following the election, he was elected Chairman of the South Dakota Democratic Party in December 2006.