When Ben Agajanian played on the defensive line and place-kicked for the University of New Mexico, he held a job with a soft-drink bottling company to help with his college costs. One spring day in 1941, he was riding in the company’s open freight elevator when a concrete wall crushed his right foot, severing four toes.

Agajanian was told that he would walk with a limp and never play football again. But not only did he return to his college team; he also became a place-kicking pioneer in pro football.

Agajanian, who died on Thursday in Cathedral City, Calif., at 98, was known as the pros’ first career kicking specialist, kicking field goals and extra points for nine teams in three leagues over 13 seasons with a specially designed square-toe shoe.

His death was confirmed by his daughter Lynne McVay.

Coaches had traditionally used position players to double as kickers. But Agajanian, a man without a position as a result of his injury, was valuable enough to continue kicking until he was 45.