Earlier this week, Mel Showers celebrated a milestone few have and will ever get to experienced.

On Friday, the anchor of the evening newscasts on Mobile’s CBS affiliate WKRG marked 50 years with the same station. First, he started as a reporter and then later as the channel’s lead anchor.

As a reporter, Showers earned a reputation of arriving early on the scene of an event, even sometimes before many first responders. In 1980, he transitioned to the anchor’s role, which is one he now shares with co-anchor Rose Ann Haven.

Showers acknowledged it hasn’t always been smooth sailing given his race, but explained he hasn’t allowed that to deter him.

“Those early years when the hate mail would come in, not quite used to, not quite ready for a person of my complexion to hit that air,” Showers said at his 2015 Alabama Broadcasters Hall of Fame induction speech. “But, I kept smiling.”

Showers also hails from Mobile, having grown up in the city’s “The Bottom” neighborhood. He credits having a television job in his hometown for his longevity.

“I’ve had some offers over the years, but this is my hometown of Mobile, Alabama,” he said. “And a lot of people in our business — we work where we can get to a position where we can go to our hometowns. Well, this is my hometown, and this is where I’ve worked all my life. And I like it here.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University, the editor of Breitbart TV and host of “The Jeff Poor Show” from 2-5 p.m. on WVNN in Huntsville.