Henry T. Dunker

"I’m proud to have been a member of this excellent bar for these 50 years, privileged to have associated with its fine members and blessed to still be here," said Dunker. "Although almost all of my legal career has been spent in Massachusetts, keeping my membership in the NHBA has always been very important to me."

Dunker attended the Governor’s Academy in Byfield, Mass., Harvard College and Harvard Law School.

A veteran, he served with the 3^rd Battalion, 7^th Marines, 1^st Marine Division in Korea as a combat infantry officer. "The war has been called ‘the forgotten war.’ Forgotten or not, Marines that I knew or heard of possessed a high state of morale and…understood that they were performing a mission in Korea of vital importance."

His first job as an attorney was as a clerk to Judge Peter Woodbury of the US First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. He also served as a personal attorney to Norman Rockwell and as an associate at Orr & Reno in Concord.

"In the field of law [I looked up to] Judge Woodbury, Dud Orr, Bob Reno and Malcolm McLane," Dunker said.

Dunker also served as school committeeman in Stockbridge, Mass., was campaign manager of Frank H. Freedman’s successful mayoral campaign in Stockbridge, and served extensively in both elected and volunteer positions in the town of Weymouth.

Currently, Dunker spends his time with another love, writing. "I am a budding novelist, waiting and hoping to flower," he said.

W. Jean Laflamme

"It is truly a blessing to have reached this milestone," said W. Jean Laflamme of his attainment of 50 years in the practice of law. "I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked at something I was able to enjoy all these years and to feel that I have assisted many people in the process."

While his undergraduate training was in accounting, Laflamme decided that perhaps he could be of more help to people by practicing law. In 1958, he practiced law in Manchester with his father until he died in 1960. In 1963, Laflamme joined forces with Maurice P. Bois and formed Bois and Laflamme until Bois was appointed to the Superior Court in 1973.

His practice began with general interests but, he says, was gradually limited to estate planning, probate and trust administration.

He says he is quite proud of community activities that he has been involved in over the years. They include a stint as president of the Manchester Jaycees, serving on the boards of directors for NH Easter Seals and the Manchester Institute of Arts and Sciences and in numerous activities with his church.

Laflamme lives in Manchester with his wife Lucille. They have three children: Lise, David and Nicole.

Becoming a lawyer, said Alvin H. Miller, was not a boyhood dream attained; rather he said, "I had to become a lawyer so I could sit at the table and protect my brokerage fee."

Miller, a native of Lewiston, Maine, attended the Maine Maritime Academy, Bowdoin College and, after a stint as a Boston mortgage broker, Boston College Law School.

"I would attend real estate closings and interrupt the proceedings when I disagreed with what the closing attorneys were saying or doing and was forcefully told to sit in the corner and be quiet," said Miller. "I then concluded that I had to become a lawyer."

Miller, during the Korean War, served two years in the Mediterranean as a communications officer aboard a Navy destroyer.

In his day, Miller said, he normally acted as a solo practitioner, but occasionally worked with two or three other attorneys that worked for him. Miller spent his time as an attorney in residential real estate matters, particularly, he said, with the lending aspects.

"If anyone who reads this would like to buy some ‘select’ sub-prime mortgages," he joked. "I have some for sale."

Humor aside, Miller said that he was proud of his work. He mentioned several cases which stuck out in his mind as those that he was particularly proud of. These include representing a church in a bond issue, a bank in a long-term joint venture involving a high-rise building and a different bank as a consultant during a conflict with the F.D.I.C.

Miller, father of two children – both successful, he said, in their lives and careers – has four grandchildren and lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife.