Medical Park Pharmacy in Great Bend is known as a full-service pharmacy, at its Polk Street location for more than two decades.

Regulars to the pharmacy will note that it is also known for its color scheme, which is accented by a concentrated amount of crimson red and royal blue and an entire bookcase dedicated to Kansas University basketball. 

The sign on the door to pharmacist and owner Kevin Regier’s office warns those about to enter to “Beware of the Phog.” And while his over-counter conversation with patrons tends to run toward the Jayhawks’ latest game performance heading toward post-season tournament time, Regier is quick to note that it wasn’t always that way.

Shocker beginnings

“Was I always a KU fan? The short answer to that is ‘no’,” admits Regier. “When I started following basketball on television, it was all about the Wichita State Shockers back then.”

Raised in Buehler and attending Buehler High School in the ‘70s, Regier admits to being an “only-lonely WSU follower” amidst an even 50-50 split between KU and Kansas State University fans among his classmates. “Most of the kids I hung out with were for K-State,” he said.

At home, however, blessed with the three local television stations offered at the time, Regier followed the Shockers.

It was a fairly decent time for the Shocks, who went 97-80 from 1971-78 under coach Harry Miller. Notable players included Rich Marsden, Bob Wilson, Robert Gray, Bob Trogle, Bob Elmore and Lynbert Johnson, known as “Cheese,” for his ever-present smile while on the court.

WSU made it to the NCAA Tournament in 1976, winning the Missouri Valley Conference and losing by one point to eventual national runner-up Michigan. The next year, they beat eventual NCAA Champion Marquette in coach Al MGuire’s final home game in Milwaukee.

“To be honest, growing up, I was a Wichita State fan,” Regier said. “When I was a kid, there were only three (TV) stations so you really didn’t get to choose what you watched, and they showed a lot of Wichita State basketball. I remember ‘Cheese’ really well.” 

While at WSU, Johnson was a three-time all conference and 1979 honorable mention All-American. 

After high school graduation, Regier attended Bethel College for a couple years, then transferred to WSU and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in science.

He was still open-minded about a career choice, but was leaning hard toward health care.

“I knew that somewhere down the road I wanted to do something in health care,” he said. “I kind of knew about pharmacy and pharmacists, but it wasn’t until I looked at other things that I realized it would be pharmacy. I looked at a lot of things; physical therapy, nursing, dentistry, a ton of stuff. I was just looking at anything in the health-care field,” he said.

“I really don’t know why I settled on pharmacy; chemistry wasn’t my most favorite of the sciences, but you know ... it was part of the whole deal.”

A change of colors

After choosing pharmacy as a career, Regier headed off to Lawrence and the Kansas University School of Pharmacy. As for basketball, with Danny Manning on the court and Larry Brown head coach in 1988, the Jayhawks were flying high.

“When you are in school, you pull for that school,” he said. “You can’t help it, it’s all around. With Larry Brown, and then Roy Williams after that, it sticks with you.”

While a student, he also bought his first piece of KU memorabilia, but it wasn’t basketball related. “It was a school of pharmacy sweatshirt,” he said. “Our class was selling them. It didn’t even have a Jayhawk on it, or a year. Just Kansas University School of Pharmacy.”

While in Lawrence, Regier married his wife Cynthia, from Medicine Lodge.

“My wife is probably a bigger fan than I ever was,” he said.

Kevin’s job at Dillons Pharmacy brought the couple to Great Bend in May of 1990. The Medical Park opportunity came along in 2000. “We’ve been here ever since.”

Meanwhile, his family added items to his KU collection, a piece at a time. “Most of this stuff has come from other people, to me,” he said. “I’ve bought some stuff, but a lot of it comes from family at Christmas. I’ve got very few Shocker things and I went there longer than I was at the University of Kansas.” 

Regier credits the people of the area, as well as being close to family, as reasons for being in Great Bend. “The job got us here, and we’re not too far from family,” he said. Over time, “basically it’s learning who people are and neighbors and things like that. 

“I think we’ve got a nice community here,” Regier said. “I also consider Hoisington and Ellinwood; they are separate towns but it makes a nice general community in itself.”

Meanwhile, the collection is still growing. “The other day somebody bought a KU placemat and asked if I wanted it, so it’s hanging on the office door,” he said.  

Community Connections is a regular feature of the Great Bend Tribune, showcasing people who live in the Golden Belt. We welcome readers to submit names of individuals who are active in the community that they would like to see featured in a future story. Send suggestions to news@gbtribune.com and explain their “community connections.”