He was born in Des Moines, Iowa and died in Palatine, Illinois.

[1] Irons competed for the United States in the 1908 Games held in London, Great Britain in the long jump where he won the gold medal.

He also participated in the standing long jump contest, but his result is unknown.

Four years later, he finished ninth in the long jump competition at the 1912 Games.

This article about a track and field Olympic medalist of the United States is a stub.