Gerald Irons
Encyclopedia
Gerald Irons is a former American
professional football player who played ten seasons in the National Football League
. His youngest son Grant Irons
plays for the Oakland Raiders
. Eldest son Gerald, Jr. played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers
and middle son Jarrett
was the fifth junior elected captain for the Michigan Wolverines
. He has several NFL nephews and great nephews: David Irons
, Kenny Irons
and Paul Irons
. Gerald has been listed among the 100 greatest Cleveland Browns
of all time.
Gerald is a Past President of the Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees. He has served on the CISD Board for 19 years. His current term expires in 2012.
and earned his Business Degree in 4 years. He is now an academic administrator at Lone Star College Montgomery in The Woodlands
. Jarrett
, their middle son, played football at the University of Michigan
, was 2-time team captain, and earned his Bachelor Degree and Masters Degree from U of M. Jarrett is now a medical device representative in Chicago for an international, total-joint replacement, medical device company. Grant
, their youngest son, was named the top high school male scholar/athlete in the nation. He played football at the University of Notre Dame
, and was also a 2-time team captain. He earned his Bachelor Degree in 4 years from Notre Dame in Management Information Systems. Grant has started on his Masters Degree. He is now in his sixth season playing professional football as a defensive end and linebacker
with the Oakland Raiders
. All five members of The Irons Family were selected and honored by The Woodlands residents as “Original Hometown Heroes” at The Woodlands 25th Year Celebration.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional football player who played ten seasons in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. His youngest son Grant Irons
Grant Irons
Grant Michael Irons is an American football player who is a free agent, formerly playing for the Oakland Raiders. He played in 43 career games for the University of Notre Dame, making 26 starts at numerous positions on defense. He started playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2002. His father Gerald...
plays for the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Eldest son Gerald, Jr. played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
and middle son Jarrett
Jarrett Irons
Jarrett Irons is a former All-American linebacker who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines football team from 1993-1996. A native of The Woodlands, Texas, Irons was twice selected to the All Big Ten Conference team and was a team co-captain in 1995 and 1996...
was the fifth junior elected captain for the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
. He has several NFL nephews and great nephews: David Irons
David Irons
David Irons is a former American football cornerback for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn.Irons has also played for the Florida Tuskers...
, Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
and Paul Irons
Paul Irons
Paul Irons is an American football tight end for Team Michigan of the All American Football League. Irons previously played in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and in college for Florida State University....
. Gerald has been listed among the 100 greatest Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of all time.
Education
Gerald earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland. He earned his Masters Degree in Business Administration from The University of Chicago, during 6 off-seasons, while playing professional football as a linebacker for the Oakland Raiders. He attended John Marshall Law School at night, while playing linebacker with the Cleveland Browns for 4 years. Cleveland, Ohio Jaycees named him “Man of the Year.”Life After Football
After 10 years in the NFL, he retired from football and moved his family to Texas. Five years after arriving in Texas, the Osaka Japan Jaycees selected him to represent the United States at its worldwide “Ten Outstanding Young Persons Conference,” held for 10 days in Osaka. During the conference, he met with the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, and with the Prime Minister. The Mayor of Osaka presented him with a gold key to the city of Osaka. Mr. Irons also speaks the Japanese language.Gerald is a Past President of the Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees. He has served on the CISD Board for 19 years. His current term expires in 2012.
Professional life
Mr. Irons is Senior Vice President of Business Development with Conine & Associates, Commercial Real Estate Advisors. He represents commercial real estate on behalf of The Woodlands Development Company.Personal life
Gerald has been married for 39 years to Myrna, his high school sweetheart. They have raised three very successful sons, all proud graduates of CISD high schools. Their sons were excellent student/athletes and graduated from Division I universities, on full scholarships. Gerald Jr. played football at the University of NebraskaNebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
and earned his Business Degree in 4 years. He is now an academic administrator at Lone Star College Montgomery in The Woodlands
The Woodlands, Texas
The Woodlands is a master-planned community and a Census-designated place in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. The population of the CDP was 55,649 at the 2000 census—a 90 percent increase over its 1990 population. According to the 2010 census, The Woodlands' population rose...
. Jarrett
Jarrett Irons
Jarrett Irons is a former All-American linebacker who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines football team from 1993-1996. A native of The Woodlands, Texas, Irons was twice selected to the All Big Ten Conference team and was a team co-captain in 1995 and 1996...
, their middle son, played football at the University of Michigan
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
, was 2-time team captain, and earned his Bachelor Degree and Masters Degree from U of M. Jarrett is now a medical device representative in Chicago for an international, total-joint replacement, medical device company. Grant
Grant Irons
Grant Michael Irons is an American football player who is a free agent, formerly playing for the Oakland Raiders. He played in 43 career games for the University of Notre Dame, making 26 starts at numerous positions on defense. He started playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2002. His father Gerald...
, their youngest son, was named the top high school male scholar/athlete in the nation. He played football at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, and was also a 2-time team captain. He earned his Bachelor Degree in 4 years from Notre Dame in Management Information Systems. Grant has started on his Masters Degree. He is now in his sixth season playing professional football as a defensive end and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. All five members of The Irons Family were selected and honored by The Woodlands residents as “Original Hometown Heroes” at The Woodlands 25th Year Celebration.