D.L. “Dan” Ireland, director emeritus of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP), died Dec. 24. He was 89.
Ireland made an impact on the state during his 30 years at the helm of the moral watchdog group, monitoring state legislation and working with city and county governments on wet/dry elections. During that time, many lawmakers viewed him as a sort of unofficial state chaplain.
Joe Godfrey, current ALCAP leader, said, “I wish everyone could have seen and heard what a gracious yet powerful voice he was for the Christian community. I now realize more than ever how our state would be overrun with gambling and liquor had Dr. Ireland not been so actively involved all those years.”
Ireland was ordained in 1949 and served his first pastorate at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church, LaFayette. He went on to serve four other churches — Dolomite Baptist, Birmingham; Eastside Baptist, Birmingham; First Baptist, Fort Payne; and Jackson Way Baptist; Huntsville.
He became ALCAP executive director in 1978 and retired in 2008.
Ireland was not only known statewide for his fight against gambling and alcohol but also across the nation. In 1994, he helped launch the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling (NCALG) to help fight gambling in other states.
He helped Alabama defeat the lottery in 1999, something no other state in the nation had accomplished.
Bob Riley, governor of Alabama at the time of Ireland’s retirement in 2008, said when Ireland believed in something, his passion was contagious.
“This person — without fear of any contradiction — has voted his conviction, what is best for his state, nation and God because he believed it was right,” Riley said. “You can’t replace Dan Ireland, but it is up to everyone of us to try to emulate him.”
Members of Green Valley Baptist Church, Hoover, Ireland and his wife, Polly, have been active in Alabama Baptist life for more than 70 years. Ireland served on various committees and boards and as president of the state convention.
Ireland is survived by his wife, Polly; daughter, Denise; son, Jeffrey; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. (TAB)
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