street roots
June 7, 2013
CENTRAL CITY
Changing Lives
Rick and
Randy share
smiles with
readers
Building Communities
BY AIMN-DERRICK GAILLOT
C O N T R IB U T IN G W R IT E R
Creating Opportunities
www .centrcdcityconcem .or g
503-294-1681
ick Phillips is a Gemini and while he
doesn’t go so far as to read his daily
horoscope, he does believe in the
duality of his personality.
“There are two sides to me,” says Rick.
“It’s weird that I can look back on my life
and see the Gemini in me.”
But upon first meeting, the only duality
noticeable is between Rick — slender,
outgoing, and talkative — and his chubby,
R
Rick Phillips
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adorably shy dog Randy. Yet both of them
are upbeat and ever-smiling. The two first
found each other eight years ago when Rick
started babysitting Randy, a rescue dog, for
an ill neighbor in his building. When the
neighbor had to move away, he chose to let
Randy stay with Rick. “He (Rick’s neighbor)
said, ‘I can’t break you guys up’ and he’s
been with me ever since.”
And Randy came at a good time. Just a
few months earlier, both of Rick’s parents
passed away in the same month. Ricky and
his dog live in the same building as when
they first met eight years ago.
For Rick, that makes a record for the
longest he’s ever lived in one place. “One
reason is Randy, he’s my boy,” Rick says,
smiling down at the dog, who constantly
licks his hand. “Now that I’ve got Randy I
don’t go anywhere.” At 8 years old, Randy is
a native Portlander, but Rick was born in
Fort Worth, Texas.
When he was in third grade, his family
moved to a small town in rural Oregon. He
first got a taste of city life when he joined
the Navy in 1978 and was stationed in San
Diego on the service’s first co-ed ship. A
P H O T O BY COLE M ERK EL
self-described country boy, Rick has lived in
Portland since 1992 and has come to love
the urban way of life. He is outgoing and
loves talking to people, qualities he has
most gotten to take advantage of in his job
selling Street Roots, which he faithfully does
seven days a week outside Whole Foods in
the Pearl.
“What I like about Street Roots is it made
me a better person,” he says. “I find myself
being more polite. I’m more patient. I feel
better about myself because I’m working for
Street Roots.”
Looking to the future, Rick hopes to save
up some money from selling Street Roots so
he and Randy will have something to fall
back on. He also looks forward to quitting
smoking and getting to better know the
community around his selling location.
“Being up there I’m more involved with
people. I say ‘have a great day’ and they
smile,” Randy communicates the same with
a smile of his own. “It makes my day and it
makes theirs. It makes me feel better to
know that people care. I thank God every
day.”
As for Randy the dog, he will go on
continuing his job as a local celebrity and
“Top Dog of Old Town.”
“Everybody knows Randy,” Rick says,
“People think that my name’s Randy!”
Please report any errors to our managing editor,
Joanne Zuhl, at 503-228-5657, or write to joanne®
streetroots.org.
VENDOR WORK ADS
Work Wanted
Dog walker; House cleaner; Care giver.
Dog lover who is honest, sober and
reliable. Rate: Private treaty. Eileen V.
(message) 503-228-5657
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Need a worker? Can do almost anything,
light or heavy. References supplied. $10
an hour. Ask for Cassidy Morse, 503-228-
5657 (SR office), or 503-875-6504 (cell).
8
DOCUMENTARY • LIVE ACTION HORROR • ANIMATION • COMEDY
AU movies made at the Bud Clark Commons Homeless Service Center
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