BY ALMETA DAVIS/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ard410@verizon.net

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—A Franklin man for the first time is attending the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.

Thomas Councill III, a 2010 graduate of Southampton High School and a junior mass communications major at Virginia State University in Petersburg, plays in the band, which performed on Wednesday and Thursday during the Lady Trojans’ and Trojans’ games.

Councill belongs to the marching, concert and pep bands, and low brass ensemble at VSU.

Attending a CIAA-member school is a family legacy.

It started with his great-great-uncle I.P. Councill. Others have included his grandparents Pecola and Thomas H. Councill Sr., father Thomas H. Councill Jr. and aunt Tessa Councill-Blow.

He praised his CIAA experience.

“It’s tight-knit (with) a lot of great schools and bands,” Councill said. “CIAA schools provide you with the support and life experiences needed to succeed.”

“When I came to the tournament, I saw so many successful alumni,” he added. “It gives me the feeling that I can do the same thing even though I will be graduating from a small school. I know that I will be more than prepared for my graduate studies.”

VSU Chairman of Music Mark Phillips commended Councill’s efforts.

“Thomas has many talents, music being only one of them,” Phillips said. “He displays remarkable skills in the graphic design and audio visual field. His greatest strength is his ability to get along with others.”

Upon graduation, Councill plans to get a master’s degree in mass communications at either VSU, Virginia Commonwealth University or University of North Carolina Charlotte.

He is also the son of Dolly Wright of Franklin.