Courtesy Vancouver Province:

One floor up from where a bunch of orange flowers remained taped to the front window at the Lions’ practice facility in Surrey, the door to the office of their late president, Bob Ackles, remained locked.

Inside lies a veritable football museum. Letters from social, political and sporting heavyweights. Dozens of books. Commemorative footballs from many of Ackles’ greatest team accomplishments.

It is the type of history and memorabilia that had all but gone lost before his return to the CFL team, and the kind of artifacts that could go missing in the event of an untimely passing by someone less organized.

Just as he had a plan for the Lions in life, however, it appears Ackles also had an idea as to how best preserve five decades of the game, which includes not only the contents of his office but the many unopened boxes of nuggets scattered around the Lower Mainland.

Owner David Braley said Monday one of the last things he spoke to Ackles about last week was the creation of a B.C. Football Hall of Fame. It was among a flood of ideas and tributes that percolated around the club’s training centre as players attempted to prepare for their road game Friday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Ackles had already begun the legal paperwork for the not-for-profit hall and had formed a committee which includes another Lions legend, Lui Passaglia, as a trustee.

That’s the easy part. The tough part will be sifting through Ackles’ football life in boxes.

“He’s talked for three years about a place to put all this stuff,” said Pat Waslen, executive director of Football B.C., whose office is steps away from the one belonging to Ackles and is also part of the Hall effort.

Read More…