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Dolphins exec in J.J. era dies(South Florida Sun-Sentinel (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jul. 9--Former Dolphins executive Bob Ackles, who worked for former coaches Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt, died Sunday in Canada of a heart attack. Ackles, 69, was in charge of personnel for the Dolphins from 1996-2000. He also worked for Johnson in Dallas. "We are saddened to hear of Bob's passing. Bob loved life and was always a joy to be around," Johnson said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to [Ackles' wife] Kay and the family." Ackles had been president and CEO of the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League since 2002. "During his time in Miami, no one worked harder than he did to maintain our success," Dolphins President Bryan Wiedmeier said in a statement. "He was highly respected by everyone he worked with, both within the Dolphin organization and throughout the National Football League." In addition to the Dolphins, who dedicated this year's media guide to Ackles, he worked for the Cowboys, Eagles and Cardinals in the NFL and for the Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL before the team folded. Although he worked in the NFL, his legacy was in the CFL. His autobiography, Water Boy, detailed Ackles' rise from being the Lions' first water boy to becoming the team president and CEO. He was just 15 when he joined the Lions in 1953. He became the team's general manager in 1986, a position he held until he moved to the NFL four years later. Ackles, a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, is survived by his wife, two sons, Scott and Steve, and five grandchildren. Information from wire services was used to supplement this report. To see more of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sun-sentinel.com/. Copyright (c) 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |