THUNE, John, a Representative and a Senator from South Dakota; born in Pierre, Hughes County, S. Dak., January 7, 1961; graduated from Jones County High School, S. Dak., 1979; B.S., Biola University, La Mirada, Calif., 1983; M.B.A., University of South Dakota, Vermillion, S. Dak., 1984; executive director, South Dakota state municipal league; board of directors, National League of Cities; staff, United States Senator James Abdnor of South Dakota 1985-1986; South Dakota state Republican party executive director 1989-1991; director, South Dakota state railroad division 1991-1993; director, South Dakota state municipal league 1993-1996; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Fifth and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1997-January 3, 2003); was not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Eighth Congress in 2002, but was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate; elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate in 2004 for the term beginning January 3, 2005.