View source for Bill Ireland

'''William Reynolds Ireland''' (born [[December 3]], [[1923]] in Gadsden - died [[March 5]], [[2009]]) was an executive at [[Vulcan Materials]] and a philanthropist who led efforts to preserve recreational land in Alabama through [[Forever Wild]].

Ireland was the son of [[Charles B. Ireland|Charles Byron]] and [[Katherine Reynold Ireland]]. After attending public schools in [[Birmingham]] he was placed in the Baylor School in Chattanooga to complete high school. He then attended Marion Military Institute, [[Auburn University]], [[Birmingham-Southern College]], and the [[University of Alabama]].

Ireland served three years in the U. S. Navy beginning in [[1943]], then began a 40-year career at [[Birmingham Slag Company]], which he helped transform into Vulcan Materials, the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates. He served on the board of directors for 29 years.

Ireland was a major supporter of the Nature Conservancy, the [[Alabama Wildlife Federation]] and other environmental groups. He was the state chairman for the [[Southern Environmental Law Center]]'s "Campaign for Environmental Future" and served on the advisory council of the [[Cahaba River Society]] and the [[Alabama Wildlife Rescue Service]]. He also supported the American Cancer Society, [[United Way of Central Alabama]], and the Boy Scouts of America. He was a trustee at Marion Military Institute and served on Auburn University's advisory council and [[UAB]]'s presidential advisory committee. He was president of the [[Lurleen Wallace Memorial Foundation]] and several other UAB foundations.

Ireland was inducted into the [[Alabama Business Hall of Fame]] in [[1999]] and to the [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]] as "Distinguished Alabama Sportsman" in [[2000]]. He was inducted into the [[Alabama Academy of Honor]] in August [[2006]] and the [[Alabama Men's Hall of Fame]] in [[2012]].

Ireland died in 2009 and was survived by his wife, Fay, four sons and 13 grandchildren.

==References==
* Wolfson, Hannah (March 7, 2009) "Birmingham, Alabama-area philanthropist William Reynolds Ireland dies at 85." ''Birmingham News''

==External links==
* [http://www.archives.state.al.us/famous/Academy/w_ireland.html William Ireland] at the Alabama Academy of Honor.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ireland, Bill}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:Auburn alumni]]
[[Category:US Navy personnel]]
[[Category:World War II veterans]]
[[Category:Environmental activists]]
[[Category:Alabama Business Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Alabama Academy of Honor]]
[[Category:Alabama Men's Hall of Fame]]