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 Dr. Irons received his
Ph.D. degree in 1933 from Duke University and came to Howard College in September of that
year. In the college's near bankruptcy period of the Great Depression years, he served as
teacher and men's counselor for the football players in old Renfroe Hall virtually without
pay, until World War II brought in the Navy V-12 students. After a period of active
military duty, he returned to Howard as Col. Irons, as he is known
affectionately by many.
In 1976, Dr. Irons completed 43 years of
service and retired with the rank of Distinguished Professor of History. He served in many
capacities during this time and, for 22 years, was Head of the Department of History and
Political Science. In his long career, Dr. Irons brought good judgement to the solution of
problems in almost every area of University life. A greatly respected.and beloved man, the
students dedicated the Entre Nous to him on three occasions: 1941, 1960, and 1969
Dr. Irons was married to the late Velma Wright Irons of Wedowee, Alabama, whose memory has
been preserved in the award given in her honor each Awards Day at Samford. Their two sons
are Dr. George V. Irons, Jr., a North Carolina heart specialist, and William Lee Irons, a
Birmingham attorney. A longtime member of Ruhama Baptist Church, Dr. Irons was elected
lifetime deacon of the Southside Baptist Church. He was also President of the Alabama
Writers' Conclave. He was active in many professional and academic groups over the years,
including service on the Executive Board and the Editorial Board of the Alabama Historical
Association. Dr. Irons was honored in 1997 as a founding member of the Alabama Historical
Association.
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