A Dedicated Life

Community Mourns Loss of Bill Ireland Sr.

Bill Ireland Sr.

William Reynolds Ireland Sr. was one of the state’s valued leaders in education, volunteerism, philanthropy, athletics, and business. Often described as one of the best friends Alabama’s environment has ever had, Ireland passed away in March 2009.

Born in Gadsden, Alabama, in 1923, Ireland attended Baylor University, Marion Military Institute, Auburn University, Birmingham-Southern College, and The University of Alabama. After his discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1946, he joined Vulcan Materials, where he served in various executive positions during his four-decade tenure.

A longtime UAB supporter who received an honorary doctorate from the university, Ireland served as board member and president of the Lurleen Wallace Memorial Foundation; co-chairman of the UAB Capital Fund Drive, phase II; and member of the Senior Presidential Advisors and the President’s Advisory Committee. The Ireland family also has provided a good deal of financial support to the university, establishing two chairs in the Department of Psychiatry and one in the Department of Pediatrics, and contributing to name a floor in the Hugh Kaul Human Genetics Building. Ireland was a tremendous supporter of UAB Athletics as well.

“Mr. Ireland and the entire Ireland family have been wonderful friends to UAB Athletics since the program’s inception,” says Brian Mackin, athletic director at UAB. “We are, and always will be, extremely grateful to the Irelands for the loyal generosity and good will that the family has expressed to Blazer Athletics for so many years.”

“Bill Ireland was a true friend and supporter of UAB,” adds Shirley Salloway Kahn, Ph.D., vice president for development, alumni, and external relations. “He had a positive attitude about everything and everybody. He and his family ‘adopted’ UAB and did everything they could to help foster its development.”

Maintaining the Momentum / Summer/Fall 2009