Rich Hunt couldn't help but tear up when he started thinking about his five decades in the grocery business.

"In our business, you touch so many young people's lives because this is their first job," he said. "I had one guy send me a card that worked for me 30 years ago, and I haven't seen him in 30 years. To know I impacted his life - I thought that was pretty neat."

After 52 years working for Baker's Supermarkets in the Omaha area and briefly in Oklahoma, the 66-year-old Omaha native is retiring today.

Baker's customers, friends and neighbors are invited to join Hunt for a celebration from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Westwood Plaza store near 120th Street and West Center Road, where he has served as the manager for the past seven years.

"The time is right for me," Hunt said. "I've never had holidays off or weekends off my whole career, so I will be able to enjoy them more than I have in the past.