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IRONS, DR. GEORGE VERNON, SR., Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus at Samford University and the oldest member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, died Tuesday, July 21, 1998. He was 95. Dr. Irons was a member of the Samford faculty for 43 years, from 1933 in 1976. He served as department chairman from 1945 until 1967. Born in Demopolis, Dr. Irons was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Alabama where he taught from 1923 until 1925. He held the Ph.D. degree from Duke University, where he also taught from 1931 until joining Samford in 1933. Dr. Irons served as a Lieutenant Colonel in anti-aircraft artillery during World War 11, and also was author of War Department field manuals on automatic anti-aircraft weapons and searchlights. After the war, he held an Army Reserve commission for 33 years. An outstanding track athlete, Dr. Irons was elected to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1978, the only distance runner to be so honored. He won more than 30 medals and trophies as a member of the University of Alabama track and field team during 1922-24, and set the record for the annual Birmingham Road Race in 1923. Dr. Irons was a founding member of the Alabama Historical Association in 1947, and attended the 50th anniversary of the organization last year in Birmingham. He was also a member of the Southern Historical Association, Alabama Baptist Historical Association, Birmingham-Jefferson Historical Society and John H. Forney Historical Society. He was a past president of the Alabama Writer's Conclave, and received a service plaque from the organization in 1977. He also served as vice president of the Alabama Academy of Science. Dr. Irons was awarded the George Washington Honor Medal from Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge in 1962 and the George Washington Honor Certificate in 1963. The Samford yearbook, "The Entre Nous," was dedicated to Dr. Irons four times during his teaching career in 1941, 1960, 1969 and 1974. He was a member of the Jefferson County Judicial Commission during 1961-65. Dr. Irons was listed in "Who's Who in America," "Who's Who in the South and Southwest," "Who's Who in American Education" and "Dictionary of American Scholars." He was a member, deacon and Sunday School teacher of Southside Baptist Church and former member and Chairman of me Board of Deacons at Ruhama Baptist Church. Dr. Irons was preceded in death by his wife, Velma Wright Irons. He is survived by two sons, Dr. George Vernon Irons, Jr., Charlotte, N.C., and William Lee Irons, Birmingham attorney, a grandson and great grandson. Service for Dr. Irons will be Monday, July 27, at 1 p.m. at Mountain Brook Baptist Church Chapel. Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the George V. Irons Scholarship Fund at Samford University. Ridout's Valley Chapel directing.
--SUNDAY, JULY 26, 1998
THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS