Early Life, Education, and Early Political Career
Thune was born in the small town of Murdo, South Dakota, the son of Yvonne Patricia (maiden name Bodine) and Harold Richard Thune. Thune's paternal grandfather, Nick Thune, was an immigrant from Norway who partnered with his brother Matt to start Thune Hardware stores in Mitchell and Murdo, South Dakota. His maternal grandfather was from Ontario in Canada, and Thune's mother had been born in Saskatchewan. Thune was a star athlete in high school, and was active in basketball, track, and football and also played college basketball at Biola University. Thune remains athletically active and frequently competes in running events. A 2012 feature by "Runner's World Magazine" noted that Thune has "been the fastest man in Congress since 2009."
After graduating from Biola University in California in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business, Thune received the degree of Master of Business Administration from the University of South Dakota in 1984.
Thune worked as a legislative aide for U.S. Senator James Abdnor from 1985 to 1987. In 1980, Abdnor had made political history by defeating U.S. Senator George McGovern, perhaps the most iconic figure in American liberalism. Abdnor was the son of a Lebanese immigrant peddler who settled in Lyman County, South Dakota and ran a main street general store which was similar to the hardware store run by the Thune family on the main street of Murdo in neighboring Jones County.
In 1989, Thune move to Pierre, South Dakota, where he served as executive director of the Republican Party for two years. Thune was appointed Railroad Director of South Dakota by Governor George S. Mickelson, serving from 1991 to 1993. From 1993 to 1996, he was executive director of the South Dakota Municipal League.
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