Clarence Wingate

was born on May 12, 1953, to the late Clarence L. Wingate and late Lily Mae Wingate in Darlington, South Carolina.  Keith entered in holy matrimony and was united with his loving wife, Gloria Champion of 40 years on December 31, 1981.  After retiring from UC Hastings College of the Law, Keith and Gloria made Santa Fe, New Mexico home.  

Keith started teaching at UC Hastings in 1980 after working as an associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP. He attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana for both his undergraduate and legal education. While at Illinois, he served on the Undergraduate Student Association Steering Committee, the Illinois Union Board, the University Concert and Entertainment Board, and as President of the Black Law Student Association. In 1980, he was honored as one of the first recipients of the University of Illinois Black Alumni Association "10" Outstanding Persons Award. 

 Keith was an outstanding educator and over the years taught Civil Procedure; Race, Racism, and American Law; Critical Race Theory; Reparations: Domestic and International; and Law and the Japanese American Internment. Known as a no-nonsense Civil Procedure professor, his students were often surprised to find that outside of the classroom, he was easy going and always with a smile on his face.

As the first African American professor to receive tenure at UC Hastings, Keith pushed the law school to offer more courses that examined race relations in the United States.  Keith also served on the Faculty Executive Committee throughout his tenure at Hastings, representing the interests of his fellow colleagues. He co-authored several casebooks on Civil Procedure, including Federal Courts; Federalism and Separation of Powers; Cases and Materials on Civil Procedure; California Civil Procedure in a Nutshell; along with several law review articles examining how procedure is used in civil rights cases.

Prior to retiring from Hastings, Keith served as Associate Academic Dean for 5 years, overseeing all student affair departments.  He was not only an able administrator, but he also moved the school to be more sensitive to the needs of all students.  One of his direct reports described him as “one of the very best humans ever.”

Keith passed away at home surrounded by his family from a long battle with cancer.  He will be missed and remembered fondly by all who knew him.  He leaves behind to cherish his loving memory, his beloved wife, Gloria Wingate of Santa Fe, NM, his daughter, Brenda Champion of Santa Fe, NM, three sons – Marvin Champion, Terry (Shannon) of Medford, Oregon, and Oliver (Yola) Champion of China, two granddaughters – Avery Champion and Gloria Champion, one grandson - Anderson Champion and a host of family and friends.