DeWitt Higgs
DeWitt “Dutch” Higgs (1907-1994) received his law degree from San Diego’s Balboa Law College, now California Western School of Law, in 1934. Higgs and Ferdinand Fletcher founded the law firm of Higgs, Fletcher & Mack in 1939. He was a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy from 1942-45 and was awarded the Bronze Star.
Higgs received one of his greatest honors when he was appointed by Governor Pat Brown to the University of California Board of Regents on which he served for 16 years (Chair from 1968-70 and Vice Chairman from 1970-71). The University faced unprecedented pressure in the faculty termination deliberations of professors Angela Davis and Herbert Marcuse. Higgs stood up for academic freedom when he supported their retention. Former UC President Charles Hitch stated that Higgs was the very “glue” that held the University together.
Higgs’ wisdom and sense of right provided a resource to governors, committees, and legislators in making important judicial appointments to the state and federal benches. He chaired the bipartisan Independent Commission (1991) to prepare a model of fair and equally proportioned voting districts in California. The Commission’s recommendations were adopted in 1992.
Higgs and his wife, Florence, were married nearly 65 years. He was the proud father of Barbara and Craig and had seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.