Praise for The Water Boy"From league to league, from country to country, from small towns to big cities, Bob has seen it all! His football tales and football travels are fascinating. Bob Ackles has literally gone all the way!"
—Chris Berman, ESPN
"I have known Bobby Ackles since he was the Water Boy. Now he is the Wonder Boy! Bobby Ackles didn’t put the BC Lions on the map once. He put them on the map twice! Bobby has done more for the game of football than anyone I know. And he isn’t stopping yet. Go, Bobby, go!"
—Allan Fotheringham, Author
"Bob Ackles is in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He is also a charter member of the ‘Nice Guys Hall of Fame.’ I’m honored to call Bob a friend. He is one of the most accomplished executives in all of sports and his story will be must reading for any sports fan."
—Bill Pollian, President of the Indianapolis Colts
"Bob and Kay Ackles have experienced ultimate highs and lows in every level of professional football in two countries. In the years Bob worked for me both with the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins he was a loyal, tireless worker. He was always upbeat and positive. Bob and Kay are wonderful people who have some great stories about their experiences."
—Jimmy Johnson, Former Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys
"Bobby Ackles is truly a living legend in British Columbia. He proves that nice guys can win! They don’t make ’em any better than Bobby!"
—Jim Pattison, President, the Pattison Group
Bobby Ackles is President and CEO of the BC Lions Football Club and has been an integral part of the team for over 50 years. From his earliest days as the team’s first Water Boy, Bob rose through the ranks to become Director of Football Development, Assistant General Manager, and was the Lions’ General Manager for 11 years. After 34 years with the Lions, Ackles joined the Dallas Cowboys as Vice President of Pro Personnel and then Vice President of Player Personnel. He has also been an executive with the Phoenix Cardinals, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Miami Dolphins of the NFL, as well as Vice President and General Manager of the Las Vegas Outlaws. This put Bob in the history books as the only man to hold executive positions in the CFL, NFL and XFL. He rejoined the BC Lions in 2002, promising to deliver another Grey Cup within five years. This promise was fulfilled a year early when the Lions captured the Cup in 2006. Ackles is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the BC Sports Hall of Fame. He has been honoured with the Jack Diamond Award by the Jewish Community Centre as Sportsman of the Year and is a Schenley Award of Excellence winner. He sits on the board of directors for the Vancouver YMCA, and he was presented the President’s Award for Excellence for his fundraising work for Nanook House. Bob and his wife, Kay, live in Vancouver.
Ian Mulgrew is currently a senior feature writer and legal affairs columnist for The Vancouver Sun. Ian’s work is regularly featured in national magazines, and several film and television companies have optioned his stories. He has co-produced and hosted numerous television programs ranging from current affairs to music. He is the author, co-author, or ghostwriter of six other books.
