CENTERVILLE — Mike Nugent tucked away a lot of championship memories in four years of playing on Ohio State University football teams.

A record-setting kicker who now makes his living as the Cincinnati Bengals franchise player, among the most noteworthy is this gem:

“People would say little things like, ‘What do they put in the water at Centerville?’

“That’s one thing that I always learned — growing up in Centerville — to keep your mouth shut and do what you’re told and know your place. That can take you a really long way, especially being a kicker.”

Nugent shared that wisdom and a lot more as the featured guest at Thursday night’s 46th Sonny Unger Foundation banquet at the Golf Club at Yankee Trace. The event also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Wee Elks youth football program.

Centerville seniors Benny McGowan (offense) and Mike Thomas (defense) were the Unger scholarship winners. McGowan is headed to Michigan State to play, and Thomas intends to walk on at Miami University.

Among Elks Nation, the Unger award is considered the highest honor. The 1963 Centerville grad was an outstanding football player. He was killed during his second tour of Vietnam in November 1966. He was 22.

Award-winners best exude the character and leadership skills that Unger had.

“Anytime that you do something for 46 years, it holds a special meaning,” said Elks head football coach Ron Ullery.

“We try to make sure that everyone remembers the true meaning of this evening and that is the memory of a great American hero. The Sonny Unger story is unbelievable what he did for the country.”

A 2001 Centerville grad and previous Unger winner, Nugent was the Elks’ starting quarterback as a senior.

However, it would be as a kicker that he would make his mark at OSU and in an extended NFL career. Last week Nugent signed a one-year contract worth $2.65 million as the Bengals’ franchise player.

“They say that change is good, but there are certain areas that you want things to stay the same,” he said with a nod to his Centerville-football grooming.

“We always worked so hard. That’s something that will never change. We’ll always have the kind of coaches that we have there.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2381 or mpendleton@DaytonDaily News.com.