John "Jack" Billion (born March 4, 1939) was the 2006 Democratic Party candidate for governor of South Dakota, United States. A retired surgeon and former state legislator from Sioux Falls, Billion ran against incumbent Governor Mike Rounds. Billion's running mate was Dr. Eric Abrahamson of Rapid City, South Dakota. Billion and Abrahamson were defeated, winning 36% against Rounds' 62%.
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Early family years
Jack Billion is a South Dakota native, born in Minnehaha County on March 4, 1939, to Henry and Evelyn Heinz Billion. He grew up in what is commonly known as the "North End" of Sioux Falls, and is the second of eight children.
Education
Billion attended elementary and high school in Sioux Falls. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1957. He received his BA degree from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa and was admitted to the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago in August 1960. He was awarded his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1964 and began his internship and residency training at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois.
Military service
After completing his orthopedic residency in 1969, Billion served two years in the United States Air Force as a Major. He returned to Sioux Falls in 1971 to begin his orthopedic surgery practice. He has been active in the Sioux Falls and South Dakota medical communities since that time.
Professional and civic life
Billion practiced as a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon from 1971 through 1997. He has been active in the State and Sioux Falls communities, and represented District 13 in the South Dakota State Legislature from 1993 through 1996. He also served as Vice-Chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party and currently is Chair of the Minnehaha County Democratic Party. After his gubenatorial campaign, he ran for and was elected State Chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party in December 2006. Billion serves on the Board of Trustees at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD, 1986-1993 and 1996 to present and is the Chairman of their Development Committee. Billion has raised seven children in South Dakota. He and his wife Deborah attend Asbury United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls.
