More than half of a century after beginning his path on a career to journalism, Manny Correira was welcomed into a prestigious and elite group known as the Rhode Island Press Association Hall of Fame on Friday evening.

Correira, born and raised in Bristol, graduated from Colt Memorial High School, in 1962, and attended Johnson & Wales University and Bryant University, majoring in Business Administration, Economics and Marketing. But his journalism career really started in 1961 when Correira was just 17 and began writing as a cub reported for the Bristol Phoenix.

"My parents envisioned a career in education for me when I was young, but I chose journalism instead," Correira says, making mention that ink is in his blood. "It was the best decision I ever made. My motto has always been, 'I want to report the news, not make it.'"

This year marks Correira's 52nd year as a newspaper reporter. Correira spent more than 20 years working with East Bay Newspapers, eventually moving on to the Providence Journal where he spent 22 years of his career covering East Bay news and sports. Now retired, Correira still does photography and reporting work for East Bay Newspapers and is working on a book in his free time.

And for Correira, being inducted into the RI Press Association Hall of Fame is a dream come true.

"All I can tell you is that this is my greatest honor ever, eclipsing even being named Chief Marshal of the Bristol 4th of July Parade in 2007, the town of Bristol's highest honor," Correira said.