Robert Ackles (September 16, 1938 – July 6, 2008) was a Canadian Football League executive for the BC Lions.
Ackles was born in Sarnia, Ontario and joined the BC Lions as a water boy in their founding year, 1954, at the age of 16.
Under his leadership, the BC Lions became one of the CFL's winningest teams, moved into a new stadium and built a new training facility.
The following year, 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.