Ken Kavanaugh, a star receiver for the Chicago Bears in the 1940s who spent nearly a half century with New York Giants as a coach and scout, has died. He was 90.

He died of complications from pneumonia Thursday in Sarasota, Fla., where he had lived since retiring from football in 1999.

Kavanaugh was born in Little Rock, Ark., and played at Little Rock Central High School. He starred at LSU and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1963. He played eight seasons with the Bears, interrupted by three years as a pilot in World War II during which he flew 30 missions over Germany and won the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

Kavanaugh still holds or shares four Bears records: most career touchdown receptions (50), most single-season touchdown receptions (13), most yards per reception in a career (22.4) and most yards per reception in a season (25.6). His NFL playing career ended in 1950.

He spent 45 years in the Giants organization, beginning in 1955 when he was hired as an assistant coach. He switched to the scouting department in 1971 and worked there until his retirement in 1999.

“Ken Kavanaugh was a revered member of the Giants family,” said John Mara, the Giants’ president and CEO. “He led an extraordinary life, from his years of service in World War II through his career in the NFL as a player, coach and scout. He made many important contributions to the Giants.”

Kavanaugh was voted the Southeastern Conference’s most valuable player at LSU in 1939 when he caught 30 passes.