Tascal J. Countiss

Tascal J. “Tack” Countiss was a native of Bristol, Tennessee. A charter inductee of the Emory & Henry Sports Hall of Fame, Countiss excelled on the basketball court.

Countiss earned a bachelor’s degree from Emory & Henry College, received a master of arts from Peabody College, and did postgraduate work at Columbia University and East Tennessee State University. After coaching basketball at Union College and Tusculum College, Countiss taught and coached in the Bristol area. He served as principal of Fairmount Elementary School in Bristol for six years and taught for 34 years before retiring from Tennessee High School in 1976.

Countiss was a World War II veteran and attended East End Christian Church of Bristol. He enjoyed athletics, fishing, hunting, camping, and traveling. His daughter, Lisa, is also a member of the Emory & Henry Sports Hall of Fame for her accomplishments as a tennis player.

Countiss passed away after a brief illness on February 27, 1977 at the age of 65.