The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame lost another of its distinguished members when Dr. George Vernon Irons Sr. died Tuesday night.

He would have been 96 years old on Aug. 7.

Dr. Irons won his athletic fame as a distance running star at the University of Alabama from 1920- 23. He established Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association records at two miles, three miles and three and a half miles. In 1923 he broke the existing three mile road race record by 20 seconds.

The Tuscaloosa native joined the Samford University faculty in 1933 and taught history until 1976. He was head of the history department for 20 of his 43 years at Sarnford. At his death Dr. Irons held the title of Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus at Samford.

"Dr. Irons was an active walker into his 90s," said ASHOF executive director Bill Legg. "He loved the Hall of Fame and was one of our most enthusiastic supporters." Dr. Irons was inducted with the Class of 1978.