In February 2023, a former manager at Pennyβs sued Phillips and his business partner for wage theft. The suit was later voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff.
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He describes himself as a βeternal optimist.βΒ
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βIβm one of the luckiest guys in the world,β Phillips has said.Β
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He was born Dean Benson Pfefer on January 20, 1969, in St. Paul, Minn.Β
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His biological father, Arthur (Artie) Pfefer, was a captain in the U.S. Army at the time of Deanβs birth. Artie was killed in a helicopter crash in the Pleiku province in Vietnam on July 25, 1969 β before he had ever met his son.Β
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Family members say that Dean is the spitting image of his father.Β
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After the wedding, Eddie adopted Dean, who took his adoptive fatherβs last name. The adoption βbrought me into a family of great achievement and high expectations,β Phillips later wrote.Β
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Phillipsβ adoptive grandmother, Pauline Phillips, was the author of the famous βDear Abbyβ advice column, which she wrote under the pseudonym βAbigail Van Burenβ between 1956 and 2002.Β
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In 1991, he earned a bachelorβs degree in urban studies from Brown University, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and a newscaster for the campus radio station.
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A campaign bus with βDean Phillips for Presidentβ was spotted driving around Ohio on Oct. 24 β several days before Phillips officially announced his campaign.Β
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