[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15402-15403]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO DR. GEORGE VERNON IRONS, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT B. ADERHOLT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 1, 1999

  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I want to celebrate the life of Dr. George 
Vernon Irons, Sr., distinguished professor of history and political 
science at Samford University, 43 years, distinguished professor 
emeritus, 22 years, who passed away July 21, 1998.
  Dr. Irons was a record breaking champion athlete at the University of 
Alabama in the 1920's. Sportswriters described him as the ``Ironman of 
Alabama, Crimson Machine and South's Premiere Distance Runner'' for his 
remarkable athletic feats. His accomplishments have been heralded by 
legendary great, Paul Bear Bryant as ``truly outstanding athletic 
achievements,'' and Coach Wallace Wade (three time Rose Bowl winner) as 
the ``greatest distance runner of his day.'' In 1978 Dr. Irons was 
inducted into the prestigious Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on the first 
ballot--an honor achieved by only three men: Paul Bear Bryant, Ralph 
Shug Jordan and Dr. George Irons.
  As Captain of the Alabama distance team, he broke the record for the 
B'ham Road Race (1923) by twenty seconds in a cold, hard driving 
December rain. Captain Irons record has never been equaled or broken. 
Irons was the Southern (S.I.A.A. now S.E.C.) champion of the 2, 3, 3\1/
2\, and 4 mile events. He is the only University of Alabama track man--
the only distance man--inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame--
rare honors he holds over 30 years after the Hall of Fame's creation.
  A Phi Beta Kappa honor graduate--Rhodes Scholar Nominee--he went on 
to earn his doctorate at Duke University, before joining Samford's 
faculty in 1933. Dr. Irons also distinguished himself in World War II, 
rising to the rank of colonel--with 33 years active and reserve duty--a 
Samford faculty record.
  Mr. Speaker, over 50 Alabama cities have passed proclamations or 
resolutions honoring this admired Alabamian--yet another record for 
this remarkable Alabamian. I ask unanimous consent that Dr. Irons 
eulogy, delivered by his former student, Dr. James Moebes, senior 
minister, Mountain Brook Baptist Church, be included in the 
Congressional Record for America to share the life of this record 
breaking champion athlete for the Alabama Crimson Tide, distinguished 
university educator and valiant colonel, who defended his nation for a 
third of the 20th century in war and peace.

Eulogy for Dr. George Vernon Irons, Sr. Mountain, Brook Baptist Church 
    Chapel, July 27, 1998--Delivered by Dr. James D. Moebes, Senior 
                     Minister, Full Military Honors

       I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord. He that 
     believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And 
     whosoever lives and believes in Me, will never ever die. The 
     Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, The world and 
     they that dwell therein, for He hath founded it upon the seas 
     and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend unto the 
     hill of the Lord or who shall stand in His holy place. He 
     that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lifted 
     up his soul into vanity or sworn deceitfully, he shall 
     receive his blessings from the Lord and righteousness from 
     the Son of God of his own salvation. For reckoning that the 
     sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared 
     with that glory shall be revealed in us. Blessed is the man 
     who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, or standeth in 
     the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat to the scornful. 
     For his delight is in the law of the Lord and in that law 
     doth he meditate, day and night. He shall be like a tree 
     planted by the streams of water. He shall bring forth his 
     fruit in due season; his leaf shall not wither; whatsoever he 
     doeth shall prosper.
       Dr. George Vernon Irons was born on the 7th of August, 
     1902, in Demopolis, Alabama. His father, Dr. Andrew George 
     Irons, was a Presbyterian minister. His father came from the 
     Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. He was a magna cum laude 
     graduate, Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. As 
     instructor, Supt., Marengo Academy, he taught, and was 
     interested in young people. He was always on the lookout for 
     those that showed promise. He ran across a student, a young 
     man named Henry Edmonds. He knew that he had some ability. He 
     sought out Henry's father. Talked with him about his son 
     going to college, getting an education, becoming a leader. 
     But Edmonds' father thought his son would make a good 
     southern plowboy. Well, Revered Irons arranged to get a 
     scholarship for Henry Edmonds. And we owe him a debt of 
     gratitude. Henry later, Dr. Edmonds established Independent 
     Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Al--A wonderful 
     congregation. Dr. Edmonds was a man of vision and leadership 
     and he has acknowledged Rev. Irons as a source of his 
     inspiration and motivation in his formative years.
       Dr. Irons was one who also inspired people. When he entered 
     the University of Alabama, he had never run in an organized 
     race before. He said he sort of started running by accident. 
     Because when he was a freshman, the upper class students--if 
     they found out you were a freshman--would paddle you. And he 
     said when they stopped you, you had one of two choices: 
     either you lied or you ran. He said: ``Now Don't ask me which 
     one I chose--I did some of both.'' So he became a runner! 
     When the train whistle would sound every day, he knew he had 
     10 minutes to get to class and he would dash across campus, 
     from where he lived, near the University of Alabama's campus.
       Well, from such beginnings, the became known as ``The 
     South's Greatest Distance Runner,'' and the ``Knight of the 
     Cinderpath.'' During my years at Alabama, I became familiar 
     with their yearbook--The Corolla. In the 1923 Corolla, George 
     Irons was referred to this way. These are quotes. He was 
     captain of the track team, captain of the cross country or 
     distance team, and this is what fellow students said about 
     him: ``One of the true greats of Alabama athletic history. 
     An honor man in scholarship and a record breaking athlete. 
     That's a real man! A scholarly Christian gentleman.''
       Would'nt it be wonderful to write in those terms today? 
     ``Scholarly Christian gentleman.'' They concluded: ``He has 
     no equal in the southland.'' Now, an interesting thing 
     happened while a student. Coach Wallace Wade, head football 
     coach, sent word to the track team, that he wanted them to 
     scrimmage his football team. Now, this was the undefeated 
     Rose Bowl team on which Johnny Mack Brown was all-American. 
     When I was six or seven, Johnny Mack Brown was one of my 
     heroes. I did not know he had been all-American at the 
     University of Alabama. I thought he had just ridden horses 
     all his life, shot pistols. Well, Dr. Irons never backed off 
     a good challenge, so he fired over to the practice field. And 
     they ran an endsweep, and Johnny Mack Brown was carrying the 
     ball with only one man between him and goal line--George 
     Irons. Irons took him on--one on one. And he stuck him good 
     and he brought him to the ground.
       Well, years later, in a routine examination, there was an 
     x-ray, and his physician son--Dr. George, Jr.--said to him, 
     ``Dad, do you realize you have an old fracture in your 
     collarbone?'' Dr. Irons' thoughts raced back to that autumn 
     afternoon, and he replied, ``Yes, yes, I knew it was a little 
     stiff for a couple of weeks, but I put him on the ground!''
       A Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Dr. Irons taught at the 
     University of Alabama from 1923-1925. Then earned his Ph.D. 
     degree from Duke University, where he taught history from 
     1931-1933, before joining the faculty at Howard College--now 
     Samford University. And I see his dear friends of Samford 
     here--so many--even standing outside our chapel--here to pay 
     respect to this beloved and admired Alabamian. Because of Dr. 
     Irons--Samford is one of the finest universities in America.
       Then World War II came along, and Dr. Irons served as 
     colonel in the anti-aircraft battalion, defending New York on 
     D-Day. The War Department asked him to write field manuals 
     for anti-air-craft weapons and searchlights. Dr. Irons said 
     he knew those manuals had to have fallen into the hands of 
     the Japanese, and that's why they weren't able to shoot down 
     a single allied plane.
       Well, during his 43 years as a history and political 
     science professor at Samford--chairman of his department 25 
     of those years--Dr. Irons taught seventeen students who 
     became university presidents--more than any other university 
     educator. He was a founding member of the Alabama Historical 
     Society in 1947. Last year they celebrated their 50th 
     anniversary here at Mountain Brook in this chapel. And I 
     enjoyed sharing some precious moments with Dr. Irons--our 
     last.

[[Page 15403]]

       But I shall never forget, I met him in 1959. Thirty-nine 
     years, I have known, admired and loved this man! I'll never 
     forget how, when we started an examination, he would say, 
     ``Now class, we want to have a little spread formation.'' So 
     the class would spread out.
       Some of you, he would say, might want to go into ``punt 
     formation.'' Then he would call his questions out audibly. 
     Getting down to questions 13 and 14, he would say, ``Now 
     there were three Napoleonic battles in this era.'' And 
     you'd think, ``Oh, my, I only recall two.'' Then Dr. Irons 
     would say: ``Questions 13 and 14--you just name two. Two 
     battles is all I want--just two. Well, classmates sighed, 
     ``Thank you Lord, Thank you.'' So we answered 13 and 14. 
     Then Dr. Irons said: ``Everybody ready? O.K., question 
     15--list the other battle.'' And students would pound 
     their desktops.
       Dr. Irons has a member of the Southern Historical 
     Association, the Alabama Baptist Historical Association, the 
     B'Ham-Jefferson Historical Association, and the John Forney 
     Historical Association. He was past president of the Alabama 
     Writers Conclave. Received a service plaque from the 
     organization in 1977. He served as vice-president of the 
     Alabama Academy of Science. Dr. Irons was awarded the George 
     Washington Honor Medal from Freedom's Foundation at Valley 
     Forge, PA, 1962. George Washington Honor Certificate in 1963. 
     As director of Samford's Freedom Foundation project, the 
     school received eighteen consecutive awards. An achievement 
     unmatched by any other school or institution. Dr. Irons 
     received the dedication of the Entre Nous--the university 
     annual--on four occasions: 1941, 1960, 1969, and 1974, the 
     student body's highest honor. No other has received that 
     number.
       Dr. Catherine Allen recalls Dr. Irons' leadership as 
     chairman of the board of deacons at Rhuama Baptist Church 
     during her years there. Dr. Tom Camp recalls his loyal 
     service at Southside Baptist--as a member, Sunday school 
     teacher, deacon and lifetime deacon--a beloved member there.
       He was preceded in death by the love of his live--Velma--
     distinguished educator in her own right. Many folks don't 
     realize that Dr. Irons was a distinguished member of the 
     Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Only Samford faculty man ever 
     inducted. Only three have been elected to membership in the 
     Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on the very first ballot in the 
     history of that organization: Paul Bear Bryant, Ralph Shug 
     Jordan and Dr. George V. Irons. They will miss him indeed at 
     those gatherings.
       He became a distinguished professor of history and 
     political science, emeritus, 22 years of total service to 
     Samford--65 years--a record. He was a gentle spirit--a gentle 
     man. For me, like many of you--he was a mentor. The primary 
     reason I minored in history. His lectures were so 
     captivating, instructive yet entertaining. I'll always be 
     grateful for a copy of his hand-written testimony--he shared 
     that personal testimony wherever he went. As you might guess 
     for a noted sportsman, he entitled it: ``My Gameplan.'' It 
     had three simple points. The first was: I have faith in God. 
     He had under that particular point made reference to a hymn--
     ``Awake My Soul--Stretch Every Never.'' Listen to the 
     runner's heart and soul in this hymn: ``Awake, my soul, 
     stretch every nerve, and press with vigor on! A heavenly race 
     demands thy zeal, and an immortal crown and in an immortal 
     crown. A cloud of witnesses around, hold thee in full survey, 
     forget the steps already trod, and onward urge thy way, and 
     onward urge thy way, blest Saviour, introduced by Thee, have 
     I my race begun, and, crowned with victory, at thy feet, I'll 
     lay my honors down, I'll lay my honors down!''
       He won 30 trophies as a record breaking champion athlete at 
     the University of Alabama. None of those and all of them 
     combined would not begin to have the meaning to him 
     compared to the love of the Lord Christ. Have faith in 
     God! Here was his second: Have faith in yourself. As a 
     distance runner--you had better! And this is how Dr. Irons 
     said it: ``When your helper is in you (not just with you) 
     you cannot fail in all that really counts--regardless of 
     this world's outlook and evaluation.''
       Then, he concluded his personal testimony with this final 
     point. III. Read the holy word. This is contact with your 
     God. George Irons knew the Lord. I conclude with this part of 
     the scripture. Do you not know, have you not heard, the Lord 
     is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the Earth. 
     He will not grow tired or weary. And His understanding, no 
     one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary, and increases 
     the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and 
     young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord, 
     will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like 
     eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and 
     not faint.
       Thank You God--for George Vernon Irons. His wonderful, 
     wonderful family--those who have known him best and loved him 
     best. Who he has known best and loved so dearly. Holy Father, 
     he has run with patience the race of life and he has brought 
     the banner home. He has fought a good fight, he has finished 
     his course, he has kept the faith. Thank Thee for what he has 
     meant to every one of us. Thank Thee for George, Jr., thank 
     Thee for Bill, grandson, great grandson--all the family. For 
     the happiness they have shared together. For the joy they 
     have known in life because of this wonderful man. Thank Thee 
     for the many lives in which he has made a difference. Thank 
     Thee, that he has taken that which was so very rough and 
     polished a few of the edges, knocked off some of the sharp 
     places, taught us a few lessons, and helped us to be on our 
     way. Thank Thee for his wonderful Christian spirit--for that 
     mountain of modesty at the center of his being, for that 
     quick mind, for that winsome personality, for that wonderful 
     wit. For those things in life in which he stood so very tall. 
     Thank Thee for this Christian southern gentleman. Having 
     shared some of life with him, may we be found the stronger 
     for the living of life in these days. May his light always 
     shine before us, that we would see his good works, but then 
     glorify his father who is in Heaven. Thank Thee that he lives 
     there now with Thee. Bless him and hold him close now and 
     forever. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the 
     Holy Spirit, through Jesus our Saviour, we pray. Amen. For 
     this Christian soldier who defended his nation for a third of 
     the 20th century in war and peace we will close with the 
     organ piece: onward Christian soldiers--as he requested. 
     Please remember the words and how they related to the life of 
     this admired and beloved Alabamian, as we stand together and 
     depart.

     

                          ____________________