Peter Millham retires after 55 years of practicing law in Laconia

LACONIA — Sixty guests including past and present law partners, family and friends of Attorney Peter Millham were on hand to honor his career Thursday evening at the Winnipesaukee Yacht Club in Gilford. September 1, 2014 marked Millham's 55th anniversary of practicing law in Laconia.

Upon admission to the bar in 1959, Millham was employed by retired Superior Court Judge Harold E. Wescott for whom the firm of Wescott Law is named today. Millham was named a partner and the firm became known as Wescott & Millham. Over the years the firm went through other name changes to reflect the addition of partners. Attorney Rod Dyer joined the firm in 1964, and the firm became Wescott, Millham & Dyer which it remained for many years until the merger with another firm, Fitzgerald & Nichols. It is merely a coincidence that on the year of Millham's retirement the firm chose to change its name one last time, in honor of its historic origins to Wescott Law.

Millham was presented a copy of Life Magazine from 1959 to commemorate the year he was admitted to the practice of law. The issue covered the topic of America's first astronauts, referred to by NASA as the Mercury Seven.

The firm also made a generous donation, in his name, to the Circle Program, a charitable organization for girls from low-income New Hampshire families. Millham has been very involved with the organization, based in Plymouth, N.H., serving at one time as the President of their Board of Directors.

Throughout his career Millham has given generously of his time, serving various other organizations such as the American Red Cross, Mount Washington Commission, Gunstock Recreation Area Commission, New Hampshire Music Festival and Indian Head National Bank. Millham played an integral part in the development and implementation of what is now known as the Lakes Region Charitable Foundation. Perhaps most notable is Millham's role as Moderator for the Town of Gilford, a position he held for forty years.

After fifty years together in practice, it seemed only fitting that Dyer be given the honor of presenting to Millham a Resolution written and signed by all the current attorneys of Wescott Law. Dyer spoke fondly of Millham's dedication to his family, the firm, his clients and the community as a whole, adding, "Peter V. Millham has for many years been the leader and moral compass of this law firm, and his presence in our office will be greatly missed."

Millham thanks all those who attended the celebration. He states, "My fifty-five years of practice have been enjoyable. I have appreciated my relationships with the other lawyers and business people in the area, as well as my clients in general. I want to thank the Court personnel and the personnel in the offices of the various cities and towns with whom I have dealt, [as well as] the staff in our office at Wescott Law for the relationships we have developed."