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Fresh from two years of teaching at Duke University, Dr. Irons received his first Howard assignment. It had nothing to do with the classroom. He was to obtain an extension on Howard's loan from a Woodlawn bank.
Visiting the bank, the young professor began his presentation. But the banker held up his hand.
"Irons," he said, 'we just want our money."
Taken aback, Irons nevertheless continued, stressing the benefits the college brought to the community. Finally, the banker granted an extension, and Howard eventually paid off the loan.
Irons died at 95 on July 23, and the story of his introduction to Samford was one of many recalled by family and friends. Irons retired in 1976, becoming Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus. He had served as History Department head from 1945 until 1967. The Entre Nous yearbook was dedicated to him four times—in 1941, 1960, 1967 and 1974.
An outstanding track athlete during the 1920s, Irons was the oldest member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, 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 team during 1922-24, and set the record for the annual Birmingham Road Race in 1923.
Born in Demopolis, Irons was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Alabama, where he taught from 1923 until 1927. He held the Ph.D. degree from Duke University.
Irons served as a Lieutenant Colonel in anti-aircraft artillery during World War II, and also was author of War Department field manuals on automatic anti-aircraft weapons and searchlights.
He was a founding member of the Alabama Historical Association in 1947, and a member of the Southern Historical Association, Alabama Baptist Historical Association, Birmingham Jefferson Historical Society and John H. Forney Historical Society.
Irons served as president of the Alabama Writer's Conclave and as vice president of the Alabama Academy of Science. He received the George Washington Honor Medal from Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.
The Velma Wright Irons Award presented to the class salutatorian each year at Samford Commencement is named for his late wife, a public school teacher. Irons is survived by two sons, Dr. George V. Irons, Jr. '52, Charlotte, N.C., and attorney William Lee Irons L'66, Birmingham; a grandson and a great grandson.
Memorials may be made to the George V. Irons Scholarship Fund at Samford.
--SUMMER 1998
SEASONS magazine, Samford University