On this special 100th episode on Old Town New World, we sat down with John Gettys, Rock Hill’s Mayor, about the current and future state of the town. We get to hear John talk about the effort that went into making Rock Hill a thriving and renowned town with an optimistic future as well as the importance of being intentional about what the city could look like years from now.

John went to Erskine College for his undergraduate degree, and afterwards he earned his master’s in public administration and juris doctorate from the University of South Carolina in 1995.

After becoming a partner in the law firm of Harrelson, Hayes & Guyton, John left in 2001 to start the Morton & Gettys law firm with James M. Morton.

John was elected to many Rock Hill boards, committees, even city council before coming into his current role as mayor. He has received numerous awards, including the Dream Keeper Award from Rock Hill’s Martin Luther King Task Force, the Deacon Service Award at First ARP Church, and the Community Service Merit Award from the Come-See-Me Board of Directors. He was honored as a member of the Liberty Fellowship Class of 2009 and was a 2017 participant in the Diversity Leadership Initiative of the Riley Institute at Furman University.

John and his wife, Christi, have three sons, Jack, Grier and Evan. John serves as Elder at First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill where he and his family are all active members.