Observer Editor and Publisher Mel Bleich stands in front of The Romeo Observer building that was enlarged in 1972 and renovated in 1978. Below top a special envelope and stamp created by the Romeo Post Office in honor of Bleich, who has owned the newspaper for 50 years as of May 1, 2009. The pictoral cancellation envelope was introduced at the Victorian Festival on May 16, 2009. Below bottom, photo of Bleich and his family taken in 1959 that ran on the front page of the Observer prior to him owning the paper. From left with Bleich are Thomas, Joan, Dianne and Robert.

May 1st marked a milestone in Mel Bleich's life, and one for Michigan's newspaper industry.

      The 88-year-old publisher of The Romeo Observer celebrated his 50th anniversary of owning and operating a newspaper.

      "I have talked to a number of reputable, long-standing Michigan newspaper publishers who have a clear sense of history and between them and research that we have done at our offices, we are not aware of anybody that could lay claim to what Mel Bleich can claim", said Mike MacLaren, executive director of the Michigan Press Association.

      In some ways, life hasn't changed for Bleich. He shows up at the office daily, wearing his trademark bow tie, and dives into the daily business of running a newspaper. What has changed is the technology he uses to accomplish that task.

      Bleich has had the unique opportunity of watching the newspaper industry evolve from the days of letterpress to the digital technology used today. He's still nostalgic about those earlier days.

      "I would like to go back and be a letterpress publisher. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed handling the type. I enjoyed making up pages with metal but you can't go back," he said. "The challenge is to make whatever the future development work for you, try to stay ahead of the parade, which is not easy."