EACH YEAR, THE Bar recognizes those members who have reached the milestone of 50 years in the practice of law. This year, 23 members achieved honorary status and were officially honored at June's Annual Meeting. Bar News is continuing its series of brief sketches of this year's honorary members. More profiles will appear in subsequent issues.

James M. Winston said he finds it "shocking" that he's made it to the milestone of 50 years of Bar membership. "I never thought I'd live that long," he said.

A lifelong Manchester resident who was born in the city, Winston, 76, graduated from Manchester schools and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he used the GI Bill to go to Boston University Law School "because medical school didn't interest me."

After graduating from law school in 1952, Winston was admitted to the NH Bar and embarked on a career as a solo attorney in Manchester, a career he has enjoyed for over 50 years. He continues to practice law part-time with his son, James P. Winston, at the Winston Law Offices in Manchester.

Winston said one of his proudest career moments came when he successfully sued a religious cult for "brainwashing the daughter of my client."

"I argued and won the first verdict against that church," he said.

Winston, who is married and has six children, is involved in a number of charitable organizations. He also enjoys golfing.

Tortsen H. Parke also used the GI Bill, after serving in World War II and the Korean War; he attended the University of Virginia Law School. "Nobody in my family had ever been a lawyer, so I decided to use the GI Bill to go to law school," he said.

Born in Chicago, Parke was raised in Indiana and Virginia. After graduating from Princeton University and UVA Law, he started practicing corporate law in New York City in 1953. He then spent seven years living and practicing in Puerto Rico before moving to NH. He was admitted to the NH Bar in 1972 and continued to practice corporate law.

Parke, 76, who lives in Hull, Mass., now practices law part-time and also works as a substitute teacher. He said he is both happy and sad to have reached the 50-year mark in his profession. "I am very honored to have been a member for 50 years, but also sad that I'm getting so old," he said.

Home | About the Bar | For Members | For the Public | Legal Links | Publications | Online Store
Lawyer Referral Service | Law-Related Education | NHBA•CLE | NHBA Insurance Agency | NHMCLE
Search | Calendar

New Hampshire Bar Association
2 Pillsbury Street, Suite 300, Concord NH 03301
phone: (603) 224-6942 fax: (603) 224-2910
email: NHBAinfo@nhbar.org
© NH Bar Association Disclaimer