Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Echols received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southwestern College (now Rhodes College) in Memphis in 1962 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1964.

[1] Echols was a law clerk to Judge Marion S. Boyd of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee from 1965 to 1966.

He was a legislative assistant for Congressman Dan Kuykendall in the United States House of Representatives from 1967 to 1969.

[2] On October 22, 1991, Echols was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee created by 104 Stat.

He served as Chief Judge from 1998 to 2005, assuming senior status on March 1, 2007, and retiring fully from the bench on July 31, 2010.