For close to twenty seasons, Jean Beliveau was le Gros Bill, "the gentle giant" centreman and captain of the fabled Montreal Canadiens during the team's glory years in the 1950s and 1960s. Retiring from active play in 1971, he went on to a successful twenty-two-year career as the Canadien's senior vice-president of corporate affairs and to life-long service as a goodwill ambassador for the sport. For half a century, he has been universally acknowledged as a prince of our national game and unofficial royalty to four generations of Canadians.