Giants architect Boisture, 79, dies

Tom Boisture's name is not in the Ring of Honor at New Meadowlands Stadium where the greats of Giants history are displayed. But his fingerprints are all over it.

In a 20-year career with the Giants as director of player personnel, Boisture was a key architect in the 1980s and helped the team acquire many of the players who would lead the franchise to four Super Bowls and three championships. He died Friday, the Giants announced, at 79 from myelofibrosis, a form of leukemia.

"Tom was a great talent evaluator and was an important part of our success in the 1980s," Giants owner John Mara said. "The players he drafted revitalized our franchise. He was also a wonderful person and we will miss him dearly."

Boisture, working with George Young and Bill Parcells in the 1980s and later with general manager Ernie Accorsi, was in charge of scouting college players. During his tenure the Giants acquired Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, Mark Bavaro, Rodney Hampton, Michael Strahan and Amani Toomer.

After 10 years in the personnel department with the Patriots, Boisture was hired by the Giants in 1980. In 1998, Boisture was named Vice President of Player Personnel. He retired from the Giants following the 2000 NFL Draft but maintained contact with the team through frequent visits to the team's offices and training camps.

Boisture was a defensive lineman at Mississippi State and went on to coach high school football in Detroit as well as college football at the University of Houston, Holy Cross and Tulsa University. He was the head coach at Holy Cross from 1967-68.

Boisture is survived by his wife, the former Delores Ann Kenney of Detroit, five children - daughters Susan Ann, Deborah Lynn and Nancy Ann, and sons David and Michael - 10 grandchildren and three great-granddaughters.

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Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized, according to the team.