Thomas S. Gettys

Thomas Smithwick Gettys (June 19, 1912 – June 8, 2003) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina.

Thomas Smithwick Gettys
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 5th district
In office November 3, 1964 – December 31, 1974
Preceded by	Robert W. Hemphill
Succeeded by	Kenneth Lamar Holland
Personal details
Born	(1912-06-19)June 19, 1912 Rock Hill, South Carolina
Died	June 8, 2003(2003-06-08) (aged 90) Rock Hill, South Carolina
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Clemson College Erskine College (A.B.) Duke University Winthrop College
Occupation	school administrator, lawyer
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1942–1946

Born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Gettys was educated in the Rock Hill public schools. He attended Clemson College. Erskine College, A.B., 1933. He also completed graduate work at Duke University and Winthrop College. He was in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1946. He was a teacher. School administrator, Central School from 1935 to 1941. He served as staff for United States Representative James P. Richards from 1942 to 1951. Postmaster, Rock Hill, South Carolina from 1951 to 1954. He was a lawyer in private practice. Past member and chairman of the board of trustees of Rock Hill School District Three from 1953 to 1960.

Gettys was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-eighth and to the Eighty-ninth Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative Robert W. Hemphill, and reelected to the four succeeding Congresses (November 3, 1964 – December 31, 1974). He resigned on December 31, 1974. He was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-fourth Congress in 1974. He died on June 8, 2003, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He was interred in Neely's Creek Associate Reformed Church Cemetery, Rock Hill, South Carolina.