Born in Manhattan, New York, John Getty was adopted at the age of two. He grew up in New Jersey and Florida and attended McArthur High School in West Hollywood, Florida where he was introduced to wrestling in the ninth grade. He wrestled all four years in high school, graduating in 1975. After graduation, Getty remained connected to the sport by coaching local wrestlers before joining the United States Navy in 1980.

Getty served in the Navy for 22 years, holding various roles across multiple locations. In 1985, he was stationed in Seminole, Florida, where he assisted with the wrestling program at Osceola High School. In 1987, he began officiating – a role he would continue for nearly three decades. While advancing his military career, Getty officiated wrestling in several states, including Florida, Michigan, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC. In 2000, he was transferred to North Carolina, where he completed his final two years of military service. He retired from the Navy in 2002 with the rank of Navy Counselor Chief Petty Officer.  Following his military retirement, Getty worked an additional 15 years with the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, serving as a Detective Sergeant in the Special Victims Unit. Getty has dedicated more than 40 years to the sport of wrestling, including 12 years of coaching and over 30 years of officiating. He has officiated at seven NCHSAA state championships and 14 NCHSAA regional tournaments. Since 2020, he has served as the Regional Supervisor of the Eastern Wrestling Officials Association (EWOA).

Beyond his work on the mat, Getty is known as “The Singing Ref” for his many performances of the national anthem at dual meets, wrestling tournaments, and various sporting events. His talents have led him to perform the anthem for the Detroit Pistons, the Kansas City Royals, and at the Martina Navratilova Tennis Tournament. While working at the Pentagon in 2000, he had the honor of singing for President Bill Clinton.