"Once a Giant, you were a Giant for life,"  were the words of New York Giants owner and NFL patriarch, Wellington Mara, who died Tuesday November 1st, 2005 at age 89.  AYF President Joe Galat knows these words well, having worked for Mara as a coach of the Giants. Galat recalls the "Duke" (Mara's nickname) joining the team in the locker room and dressing up in his Giant's blue sweat suit and taking the field with the players for practices. "Well never missed a practice while I was linebacker coach with the Giants. He was a friend who lead by example. Well often said to his staff and players "we have no ex Giants once a Giant always a Giant". He reminded me of that loyalty when he called me when I was coaching the Houston Oilers. "Joe Would you speak with Rob Carpenter?  He refused to report to the Giants after we traded for him," asked Mara,  I did and Rob became the leading rusher for the Giants. Later Well thanked me for helping. I had no choice "once a Giant always a Giant".   Mara's legacy extends beyond the NFL and the New York Giants to American Youth Football; Mara was a supporter of AYF and was instrumental in its early development.  Under Mara's leadership Giants' head and assistant coaches included: Tom Landry, Vince Lombardi, John McVay, Alan Webb, AYF President Joe Galat, Bill Walsh, Bill Parcells, Tom Coughlin, Bill Belichick, Al Groh, Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel, Ray Handley and many others.    Wellington Mara was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame on July 26, 1997. Mara is survived by wife Ann, 11 children and 40 grandchildren.