KEARNEY, Neb. — Dave Regier cherishes his annual trip to volunteer in his home state.

“Coming back to Nebraska, the good life," Regier said. "Let me tell you, doesn’t get any better than here.”

The Hampton native now lives in Texas, but has donated his time and expertise as an athletic trainer for six years at the Nebraska Shrine Bowl.

“Taking care of the roots," Regier said. "Taking care of the good kids of Nebraska.”

It’s more than returning to the Cornhusker State that leads him to spend a week working the all-star football game. He’s giving back to the organization that gave him his mobility.

“If it wasn’t for the Shrine organization, I wouldn’t be standing here," Regier said. "I would have been a slug on the couch on disability not working.”

Regier was born with Fibular Hemimelia, meaning he didn’t have a calf muscle or a fibular bone in his left leg. When he was 11 years old, doctors at Shriners Children’s in Minneapolis amputated his leg and outfitted him with a prosthetic.

“With that, they gave me the ability to have a 45-year, unbelievable career,” Regier said.

His career started as a student trainer with the Nebraska football team. He then worked as head athletic trainer at Winona State and assistant trainer at TCU before spending the bulk of his career in physical therapy and rehab clinics.

South Team head coach Ryan Gottula is happy Regier chooses to spend some of his retirement back in Nebraska.

“Dave has done a great job of getting these guys ready for the end of the week here and ready to play a great game," Gottula said. "To donate his time to do that, that’s pretty special.”

Beyond his home state, this was Regier’s 19th year as director of sports medicine at the collegiate East-West Shrine Bowl Game.

He says giving back is the greatest thing a person can do.

“If it’s just volunteering one day, one month — whatever it is — it just makes you feel so good,” Regier said.