Bob Ackles

Bob Ackles
BC Lions
Date of birth (1938-09-16)September 16, 1938
Place of birth Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Date of death July 6, 2008(2008-07-06) (aged 69)
Place of death Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Career information
Position(s) President
General Manager
Career history
As administrator
1975–1986 BC Lions
1987–1991 Dallas Cowboys
1992–1994 Phoenix Cardinals
1995 Philadelphia Eagles
1996–2000 Miami Dolphins
2001 Las Vegas Outlaws
2002–2008 BC Lions
Career highlights and awards
  • instrumental in the development of the short lived XFL.
Awards
Honors
  • Bob Ackles Day - Vancouver, 1986
  • Key to the City of Vancouver, 1986
  • Key to the City of Kelowna, 1986
Career stats

Robert Ackles (September 16, 1938 – July 6, 2008) was a Canadian Football League executive for the BC Lions. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Bob Ackles was born in Sarnia, Ontario and joined the BC Lions as a water boy in their founding year, 1953, at the age of 15.[1] He worked his way through the ranks of the organization becoming the director of football development in 1966, assistant general manager in 1971 and, from 1975 until 1986 general manager.[2]

After that, he spent time in the National Football League, most notably six years as Vice President of Player Personnel for the Dallas Cowboys, and was instrumental in the development of the XFL.[3][4]

In 2002, Ackles returned to the Lions as President and CEO, a position he held until his death of a myocardial infarction on July 6, 2008.[3]

Ackles' autobiography, The Water Boy, was published in 2007 and recounted his life and time in all three leagues and the future of the CFL. Ackles was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a Builder in 2002, the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, and is the only non-player to ever be awarded the Schenley Award (1986).[1][4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Bob Ackles". Hall of Famers. Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  2. ↑ "Bob Ackles - President and CEO". Lions Staff. BC Lions Football Club. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  3. 1 2 "CFL Hall of Famer Ackles passes away". TSN.ca. 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  4. 1 2 "Bob Ackles". Inductees. BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 2008-07-06.

Further reading

External links

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