Jerry L. Countryman grew up in Attalla. He received his BS in Music Education from  Jacksonville State Teachers College (1955) and MA in Music Education from the University of Alabama (1959). He was band director at Ohatchee High School from 1953-1954, Oneonta High School from 1956-1960, and Decatur High School from 1960-1983. 

Under Mr. Countryman’s direction, The Decatur High School Band received 21 years of Superior ratings at the Alabama Bandmasters Association State Band Competition Festival. The band performed at the 1965 Southern Division MENC Conference, the 1979 Southeastern United States Band Festival (Troy), and the 1982 Tri-State Band Festival (Florida State University).

Mr. Countryman’s memberships include MENC, the American School Band Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha, and Phi Beta Mu. Mr. Countryman was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1983.