Joe San Miguel, Class of 1965, will end a 49 year career with the Del Rio News Hearld on June 1st.
He will continue to live in Del Rio and will continue to serve the News-Herald as a consultant.
San Miguel, a native of Zaragoza in Coahuila, Mexico, came to Del Rio at age 9 and began working at the News-Herald in 1962 while he was still in school.
He attended classes in the morning and worked at the paper in the afternoons.
He began delivering papers, worked his way through most of the departments and was appointed circulation sales manager in 1979.
After graduating from high school and becoming a U.S. citizen, San Miguel joined the Army, serving with an artillery unit stationed in Colorado.
"I wanted to serve my country," he said.
After his military service, he attended college on the G.I. Bill but kept working for the paper. Most of his early career was spent in the circulation department. He later became circulation manager.
He became the newspaper's first Hispanic publisher in 1989.
"I never thought I would be where I am today," he said. "I am going out with a lot of pride."
Through the years, many people told him they were encouraged by his example of learning new skills on the job.
Many people at the News-Herald have worked with him for decades. The newspaper had nine owners during his career.
"The last 10 years with Southern Newspapers have been great," he said.
His message to young people entering the business: "I would tell them not to get overwhelmed. This is an awesome business, but you have to have a commitment that this is what you want to do."
He served in many organizations in the community.
San Miguel said he has one big goal in retirement: to spend more time with his family.
His wife, Conchita, is retiring from the U.S. Border Patrol, and they are looking forward to spending more time with their daughter and her family: Sandra and John Rousseaux and Cayden, 5, of San Antonio.