Roy Boe

Roy Lars Magnus Boe(September 14, 1929 – June 7, 2009)was an owner of theNew Jersey Nets,New York Islanders,and several other professional sports teams.

Boe was a graduate ofYale Universityand a veteran of theKorean War.With his first wife, Deon Woolfolk, he founded a successful women's clothing company called Boe Jests, and sold it for several million dollars in 1966.He bought his first sports team, theWestchester Bullsof theAtlantic Coast Football League,in 1968.

In 1969, Boe purchased the New York Nets of theAmerican Basketball Association.During his tenure with the Nets, the team reached the ABA Finals in 1972, 1974, and 1976, winning the latter two series. After the last championship, Boe oversaw the Nets' entry into theNational Basketball Associationas part of theABA–NBA merger.However, theNew York Knicksdemanded that the Nets pay them $4.8 million as compensation for "invading" the New York area. This was on top of the $3.2 million the Nets had to pay for joining the league. Boe offered to tradeJulius Ervingto the Knicks in return for waiving the indemnity, but the Knicks refused that offer.With Erving demanding a reworked contract, Boe was forced to sell Erving to thePhiladelphia 76ers—in essence, trading his franchise player for a berth in the NBA, a move for which he was harshly criticized. Boe moved the team to New Jersey before the 1977–78 season, and sold the team in 1978.

In 1972, Boe helped found the New York Islanders of theNational Hockey League.He owned twenty percent of the teamand hiredBill Torreyas the team's general manager. Shortly after Boe sold his share of the team toJohn O. Pickettin 1978, Torrey led the Islanders to four consecutiveStanley Cupvictories.

In his later years, Boe owned theWorcester Ice CatsandBridgeport Sound Tigersof theAmerican Hockey League.He died ofheart failureon June 7, 2009, and was survived by his wife, Betty Broderick, five children, and six grandchildren.