07/31/2026
It is the eve of August, and we are excited to share our latest feature.....
A Passion for Service: With the Hieb Family
By Christine D'Alessandro
The dog days of summer can be brutal, especially if you work in roofing, road construction, or find yourself over a hot stove—something The Doc’s Place owner Dave Hieb knows a lot about.
The long August days can also take a toll on the boys of summer, especially those in the minor leagues. Living out of duffle bags and enduring doubleheaders for minimal pay—any time off feels like a holiday. Dave Hieb knows about that, too.
“We had a long morning practice that day and got a rare afternoon off. We were ready for a good night out when our PR guy walked into the locker room,” Dave recalls. “The team had organized a special movie day for a group of underprivileged kids, and they were looking for a volunteer to sign autographs.”
It was 1994, and Dave was playing for the Charleston Rainbows. He’d been drafted as a catcher by the Texas Rangers in 1992, and had his rookie season with the Butte Copper Kings. Now in South Carolina, the Lowcountry heat made Montana feel like a dream.
“We were all desperate for a night out, and nobody was jumping up to volunteer, so I offered to go,” he shares. “There must have been 200 kids there, and just as the PR guy was telling me to wrap it up, I noticed this one kid off to the side by himself. So, I asked him: What’s going on? He explained he didn’t have any friends, and none of the other kids liked him.”
As the PR executive continued to nudge him toward the door, Dave decided to stay. “I told the guy to come back and get me when the movie was over.”
Two hours later, the boy was surrounded by his peers, all wanting to know how he got to sit next to the baseball player. Dave watched the boy, who was smiling and soaking in the attention. When he turned to leave, the boy caught Dave’s attention, giving him a wave, a smile, and a reminder that small things can also be big.
“When it comes to kids, Heather and I will help any way we can,” he adds, never forgetting that day at the movies. To her credit, Heather’s career as a dedicated teacher, both in and out of the classroom, has also had an impact that’s hard to measure.
The couple has worked hard to improve the welfare of children wherever they go, and the clearest sign of that commitment is their three beautiful daughters—Riley, Kaelin, and Molly—who are now young adults on their way, each with a plan dedicated to children.
The August issue of Mainland Living is arriving soon...we hope you .
Photo: Shaun Reilly Photography
