Giants architect Tom Boisture 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 Bowl appearances 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 after the 2000 NFL draft but maintained contact with the team.

Boisture was a defensive lineman at Mississippi State and went on to coach at the University of Houston, Holy Cross and Tulsa University.

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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The family is requesting donations be made in Tom's name to HNMC Villa Marie Claire Hospice Fund, C/O Jean A. Leone, Exec. Director, 12 W. Saddle River Rd., Saddle River, NJ 07458.