John (Jack) Alexander Boan was born on a farm near Briercrest in 1917, where he remained until graduating from high school. After graduation, Jack served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. In 1949, he furthered his education by earning a BA (with Honours) in History and Political Economy from the University of Saskatchewan. He went on to work as an economist with the Canadian Department of Agriculture, the Defense Research Board, as well as the Department of Northern Affairs and Natural Resources and as a researcher with the Royal Commission on Health Services. During this period he took leave to pursue doctoral studies in agricultural economics at Ohio State University, where he earned a PhD in 1953. In 1962, Dr. Boan became an associate professor of Economics at the University of Saskatchewan, Regina campus.