A graduate of Clyde High School in 1963, Oberlin College in 1967, and The Ohio State University Law School in 1970, he served in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1976 in Colorado, Korea and Germany as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. After completing his tour of duty he returned to Clyde and joined the law firm of Dewey & Dewey with his Father, Thomas Dewey, Sr. and Brother, John P. Dewey