THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — The B.C. Lions will honour Bob Ackles by wearing a commemorative decal on their helmets for the rest of the season while a tribute to the late president of the CFL club is planned for July 18.
Ackles died suddenly of a heart attack last Sunday at the age of 69.
The circular helmet insignia includes the Lions’ original 1954 logo — an orange paw — and “BOB” in the centre with the Ackles quote “Be the best that you can be” at the bottom. The players will start wearing it Friday night in Winnipeg.
All amateur football players across British Columbia will also wear the decal on their helmets.
A similar logo will be displayed at centre field when the Lions return home July 18 to take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Ackles will be honoured following the game in a ceremony that will include his inclusion on the club’s “Ring of Honour” at B.C. Place.
Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan has also declared that July 18 will be Bob Ackles Day.
Ackles was just 15 years old when he joined the Lions in 1953. He was named the team’s director of football development in 1966 and the assistant general manager in 1971. Four years later he was promoted to general manager, a title he held until 1986 when he left for the NFL. He returned to the Lions in 2002.
