Dr. Irby was recommended to become ASTC’s fourth president by General Heber L. McAlister. Irby also had a military background and had served in the United States Army from June 1914 to January 1919. He had risen to the rank of captain and was a training officer throughout World War I. Irby completed his Ph.D. at Peabody and was very concerned about education in rural areas. In 1940 Irby was professor of psychology at the University of Georgia when President F. D. Roosevelt appointed him to the advisory council on education. When Col. McAlister resigned in 1941, he recommended that the board hire Irby to replace him. Irby was inaugurated as president on November 14, 1941. He was greatly concerned about the quality of education in Arkansas and emphasized the training of teachers for rural schools. Dr. Irby remained president until he submitted his resignation on march 31, 1953 with an effective date of July 1, 1953.