Robert W. Irish Jr.
Robert W. Irish Jr.
Robert W. Irish Jr.

Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Military Branch: Army

Years Served: 1969-1971

Rank: First Lieutenant

Honors: UTA Distinguished Alumni Award, UTA Military Science Hall of Honor

Biography:

Alumni Robert W. Irish Jr. was a 2008 inductee into the Military Science Hall of Honor.

Irish received his B.A. in mathematics from Arlington State College (now UT Arlington) in 1966. A member of the national champion pistol team in 1962-63, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Signal Corps and assigned to the Army Reserve. Following two years of active duty in Korea, he embarked on a business career.

After serving as executive vice president of sales and marketing at Comspec, a technology group, he resigned in 1984 to form his own company, Intermec Southwest. He retired in 1990, but companies sought him for leadership and board positions.

He was CEO of Exchange Data Corp. in 1991 and four years later became chief operating officer of FAS Technologies, serving through 2001. From 2001 to 2004, he was chair of TEC International, an organization that provides mentoring to new CEOs. He has served as chief operating officer of Controls International since 2004.

In 2004 he was one of 43 executives selected to tour military bases in Europe, the Middle East and Africa as part of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference. The group received high-level briefings on the latest efforts to combat terrorism in sensitive areas of the world.

Interview Clips

Loading the player...

Interview Date: February 22, 2013

Summary:

A 1966 graduate of the Arlington State College, Mr. Irish served as Lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps from 1969-1971 and was stationed in South Korea with the 51st Signal Battalion. During this interview, Mr. Irish talks at length about daily life while on active duty. He also recounts his time as President of the Do Bong Orphanage outside Uijongbu South Korea and managing the local MARS radio station.