Judge Richard N. “Dick” Countiss was born in Midland, Texas; attended McMurray University in Abilene; and graduated from SMU Law School, where he was editor of the SMU Law Review. After serving in the military, he worked in the U.S. Justice Department’s Honor Graduate Program, worked in private practice, and then served as District Attorney. Governor Briscoe appointed him to the 84th Judicial District Court in Spearman, and Governor Bill Clements later appointed him to the Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo – evidencing the bipartisan respect Justice Countiss commanded. He ultimately returned to private practice, specializing in appeals, and taught at both SMU Law School and the University of Houston Law Center.