Peter D. Laxalt

Peter Dominique "Mick" Laxalt was born on January 7, 1931, in his beloved state of Nevada, the youngest of six children of Basque immigrants Therese and Dominique Laxalt. Raised in Carson City alongside his siblings, he was taught the value of education from an early age and grew into a gifted scholar. He graduated from Carson High School and attended the University of Santa Clara, earned his master's in English at the University of Nevada, Reno, and continued his studies at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., before completing his legal education at Stanford University.

Admitted to the State Bar of Nevada in 1961, Peter practiced law in Reno and spent more than 50 years leaving an indelible mark on the Silver State, north to south. Known for his strategic thinking and gift of words, he was recognized as the behind-the-scenes intellect informing many political, social, and economic decisions. His deep familiarity with the mountains, rooted in his father's life as a sheepherder, instilled in him a lifelong passion for Lake Tahoe, and his influence on the region was widely felt.

Beyond the law, Peter was an accomplished writer and a gifted editor who reviewed many books and articles across a variety of subjects. He published two children's books - "Angel Questions," a tribute to his grandchildren, and "A Basque Love Story," a short cultural tale - as well as "Whirlwind," a sequel to his brother Robert's novella "Dust Devils." He passed away peacefully on March 20, 2010, with his family at his side.