Oct 30, 2003 By Jennifer Harr 3 min read

Since becoming executive editor of the Herald-Standard in 1987, Mike Ellis has written upwards of 800 columns. On Nov. 7, Ellis will hang up his pen and give up the other administrative duties of his post as he retires from his job of nearly 17 years.

But, said Ellis, he will continue on with a camera. He’s leaving the Herald-Standard to devote full time to his new business, West-TV.

It’s an operation similar to HSTV, the Herald-Standard’s television station, which Ellis helped start in the early 1990s. Based out of Latrobe, it will broadcast local municipal and school board meetings, various community events and sports.

Ellis said he’s leaving the newspaper business with mixed emotions.

“New challenges, new horizons and the great American entrepreneurial system beckons,” said Ellis.

And while he is nervous about moving from his chosen profession of 42 years into a business venture, Ellis said he is hopeful that West-TV will provide the same community service and awareness that HSTV has offered locally.

“I’ve done just about everything in newspapers, so for me, getting into something solely a business venture … is like going out on a limb,” said Ellis.

During his time at the Herald-Standard, Ellis said he was particularly proud of the many investigative pieces done by reporters. Those, he said, have often been difficult, but have ultimately benefited the community.

Herald-Standard Publisher Val J. Laub lauded Ellis as not only a co-worker, but as a friend.

“Mike has been a leader in our news operation. He’s developed our talent, initiated numerous new ideas, and most importantly, Mike’s high standards pushed the integrity of the Herald-Standard to a very high level,” said Laub.

While he is sad to see Ellis leave, Laub said that, “Our company and community are better due to his many contributions.”

Laub said he would immediately begin the search for Ellis’ successor.

Smiling, Ellis said there are many things he will miss about his job. One he won’t is the columns he’s written weekly since he started.

Many of them, he said, have been difficult to write, particularly the ones where he wrote about his life instead of an issue.

“You make yourself vulnerable, to well, everyone,” he said.

That means strangers in the grocery store know Ellis, even though he doesn’t know them. And he said he’s never quite sure if he’s going to get hugged or kicked some times, although generally, people have been kind.

“I think I will probably like to be out the limelight,” said Ellis, laughing.