Paul Ryan timeline 1970 January 29: Paul Davis Ryan is born in Janesville, the youngest of four children. 1986 Father dies of a heart attack, at age 55. 1992 Attends Miami University in Ohio, and earns a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science; Begins work as a marketing consultant for Ryan Central Inc., a construction firm begun in 1884 by his great-grandfather. 1992-97 Aide to U.S. Sen. Robert Kasten R-Wis., and U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.; Economic adviser and speechwriter, Empower America; Speechwriter for Jack Kemp’s vice presidential campaign. 1998 Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives at age 28, the first of 10 consecutive terms. 2000 Marries Janna Little, a former tax attorney and Capitol Hill aide. 2007 Named top Republican on the House Budget Committee. 2008 Introduces his “Roadmap for America’s Future,” the first of several budget reform plans to transform the federal government. 2011 Delivers Republican response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address; Named chairman of the House Budget Committee, a post he holds until 2015. 2012 Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney announces Ryan as his vice presidental running mate; Ryan and Romney lose the election to sitting President Obama; Ryan retains congressional seat. 2015 Becomes chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee; after initially refusing, agrees to run for House speaker and is elected at age 45, the youngest to hold the role in nearly 150 years. 2016 Donald Trump is named the presumptive Republican nominee for president. Ryan delays his endorsement but later announces he would vote for Trump. 2017 Introduces bill to repeal Obamacare that passes the House, but stalls in the Senate; oversees passage of a tax overhaul bill that cuts corporate and individual tax rates. 2018 Announces he will not seek re-election in November. State Journal archive photos.