British Columbia Lions’ President and CEO Bob Ackles died after having a heart attack Sunday, July 6th at the age of 69.

He was honored this past week when the Calgary Stampeders and BC Lions both offered up their victorious game balls to his memory.

Ackles, who started out as the Lions' water boy at age 15 in 1953, became Director of Football Development in 1966 and then took over as General Manager in 1971. He later spent time in the NFL as an executive with the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins as well as with the Las Vegas Outlaws of the now-defunct XFL before returning to the Lions as their president in 2002.

I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Bob during a recent CFL pre-season contest and over the past two years have worked with his son, Scott, the current VP of the Calgary Stampeders. They are a true football family that loved and lived the game of football like few families have in our lifetime.

If you would like to continue honoring the life of Bob Ackles you can make a donation in his name to the B.C. Football Hall of Fame. Donations can be forwarded to the BC Lions business operations office in Vancouver; 765 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 4Y9