Bob Ackles
Encyclopedia
Robin Ackles 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. 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.
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
.
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.
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).
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
executive for the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
in 2002.
Bob Ackles was born in Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
and joined the BC Lions as a water boy in their founding year, 1953, at the age of 15. 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.
After that, he spent time in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
most notably six years as Vice President of Player Personnel for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and was instrumental in the development of the XFL
XFL
The XFL was a professional American football league that played for one season in 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WWE...
.
In 2002, Ackles returned to the Lions as President and CEO, a position he held until his death of a myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on July 6, 2008.
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
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
as a Builder in 2002, the BC Sports Hall of Fame
BC Sports Hall of Fame
For over 40 years, the community has entrusted the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum with the responsibility to collect, preserve, study, and interpret materials that relate to British Columbia’s rich sport history...
in 2004, and is the only non-player to ever be awarded the Schenley Award (1986).