  There have been few who have made contributions to Howard College and Samford University that equal those of Dr. George Vernon Irons. For his long and distinguished teaching career, Dr. Irons would have earned a permanent place in our history, but his service to students, alumni, civic and professional groups, public and private education, and to the Baptist denomination add a unique luster to his lifetime of achievement. Born in 1902 in Demopolis, Alabama, Dr. Irons was a record breaking champion runner at the University of Alabama in the l920's. He was champion of the S.I.A.A. (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, now the Southeastern Conference) two mile three mile and three and one-half mile. Irons broke the conference records for all three distance events. As Captain of the Alabama distance team, he broke the record in the Birmingham Road Race by 20 seconds. Captain Irons' record has never been equaled or broken. Dr. Irons ran himself into the record books as the South's premiere distance star and in 1978 - the prestigious Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Dr. Irons is the only distance star ever inducted into the Hall of Fame - the Holy Grail of sport. He is also the only Samford faculty man ever inducted into the Hall of Fame a record which may never be matched. In 1998 Dr. Irons was the oldest member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame at age 95 and this is another record he may hold forever. He would have been 96 on August 7 - just two weeks from the date of his lamentable passing. |
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