Ron Garvin started wrestling in 1962. He formed a team with his "brother" Terry Garvin in the 1960s and early 1970s and they won a few regional tag team titles. They were managed by their other "brother," Jimmy Garvin (actually Ron's stepson in real life). Garvin made a name for himself as a singles wrestler in the Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee territories in the late 1970s after splitting with Terry and Jimmy. He wrestled in Angelo Poffo's International Championship Wrestling promotion where he was best known for his heated rivalries with Randy Savage and Pez Whatley. One of Garvin's best-known ICW moments was where he knocked Ox Baker's dentures out of his mouth, after which Garvin stomped on the dentures.