Charles W. Ireland

Charles William Ireland (born November 29, 1916; died July 1, 1987) was president of the Birmingham Slag Company and founder of Vulcan Materials.

Ireland was the son of Glenn Ireland and grandson of Charles L. Ireland, an Ohio banker who purchased the Birmingham Slag Company in 1916 and sent his three sons (Glenn, Eugene, and Barney) to operate it.

Charles joined the family firm in 1939 and quickly rose through the ranks. He was named president in 1951 and, with the help of attorney Barney Monaghan, engineered a merger with the Vulcan Detinning Company of New Jersey and a public stock offering. Ireland became chairman of the board and Monaghan succeeded him as president and CEO while the corporation expanded rapidly by acquiring other firms.

In part because of conflicting business styles, Ireland moved to Lynn Haven, Florida in 1965, focusing on the corporation's long-term strategies while Monaghan managed day-to-day operations. Ireland retired from the company in 1983. He died in 1987.

Ireland was inducted into the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame in 1999.

References

• Charles W. Ireland and Carolyn P. Ireland v. United States of America (July 15, 1980) United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit