Granbury ISD is proud to announce the newest members of the district’s Athletic and Academic Hall of Fame for the Class of 2025. These distinguished honorees represent the very best of Pirate tradition—athletes, coaches, educators, community leaders, and alumni whose achievements have left a lasting impact on Granbury and beyond.
This year’s Athletic Hall of Fame inductees include Olympic gold medalist Dana Vollmer, legendary coach Fred Weir, state champion distance runner Rachel Collins Downey, and baseball standout Eric Tomlinson. The GISD Athletic Hall of Fame was reinstated this year since the last formal induction of Jia Perkins in 2007.
The Academic Hall of Fame welcomes military leader and storyteller Chase Millsap, community partner First National Bank of Granbury, and longtime educators and community servants Biff and Nancy Peterson.
The honorees will be formally recognized during pregame ceremonies at the upcoming Pirate football homecoming game on Friday, September 12. Homecoming tickets will be available starting Monday, September 8 by visiting granburypirates.com/tickets. There is also a Hall of Fame community breakfast hosted at The Galley Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Granbury ISD celebrates their extraordinary accomplishments and the inspiration they continue to provide to our students, staff, and community. For more information and to make Hall of Fame breakfast reservations, visit granburyisd.org/homecoming.
ATHLETIC HOF
DANA VOLLMER, ATHLETIC | MODERN
Dana Vollmer was raised in Granbury and began swimming with the Fort Worth Area Swim Team. At just 12-years-old, she was the youngest swimmer in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials and was only a high school sophomore when she won gold in the 4×200 m freestyle relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics, contributing to a world record performance.
While a Granbury High School student-athlete, Dana was the 2004-2005 National Champion in the 100 yard Butterfly (52.70) and 200 yard Freestyle (1:45.64). In 2005, Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association named Dana the 5A Female Swimmer of the Year.
After starting at the University of Florida, she transferred to UC Berkeley. She became NCAA Swimmer of the Year, won individual NCAA titles in butterfly and freestyle, and helped Berkeley secure their first team championship. Dana achieved international success, earning a total of 32 medals (19 gold, 8 silver, 5 bronze) across events like the World Championships, Pan American Games, Pan Pacific Championships, and Goodwill Games.
At the 2012 London Olympics Vollmer achieved headline-grabbing success. Setting a new world record and capturing gold in the 100 m butterfly, Vollmer became the first woman to break the 56-second barrier (55.98 s). Vollmer also claimed gold in both the 4×100 m medley relay (world record) and 4×200 m freestyle relay. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Vollmer made history as the first Olympic swimmer to win a gold medal as a mother, earning gold in the 4×100 m medley relay, silver in the 4×100 m freestyle relay (American record), and bronze in the 100 m butterfly.
Dana has two sons with her husband Andy Grant, former Stanford swimmer. Vollmer Became an ambassador for the American Heart Association and continues to model a life of elite-level training alongside motherhood, becoming an inspiring figure for working moms and athletes alike. She continued to compete and make history, ultimately retiring in 2019 after her final race in the 100 m butterfly at the Phillips 66 National Championships.
Proud to be her hometown, Granbury honors her legacy through the Dana Vollmer Municipal Swim Center.
FRED WEIR, ATHLETIC | LEGEND
Fred Weir’s coaching career began after his football career and graduation from the University of Texas at Austin. He was hired as an assistant football and basketball coach at Ranger Jr. College in the spring of 1955. After the completion of that contract, Fred served in the U.S. Army for 2 years to fulfill his obligation to the ROTC program, which he took part in while at the University of Texas.
Upon his discharge from the Army in December of 1957, Fred was hired by Morgan ISD and coached boys and girls basketball. Fred was the head football coach and head basketball in Copperas Cove in 1958-1960 where he compiled a record of 21-10. His teams won district championships in basketball two years and a district championship in football in 1960.
In the spring of 1961, Fred was hired to be the Athletic Director and Head Football at Granbury ISD. Fred along with his coaching staff proceeded to build Granbury into a very successful program culminating with district championships in 1965 and 1966. The highlight of his Pirate days was in 1966 when the team advanced to the Class AA state championship game against Sweeney ISD. According to his family, Granbury always had a special place in his heart, and he always considered those players his “boys” and family.
Fred spent three football seasons at Andrews and one season at Fort Worth Western Hills before he was hired by Azle ISD as their Athletic Director and Head Football Coach. He coached the Hornets for two seasons, 1971 and 1972. The 1971 team won the district championship and was eliminated in bi-district play.
In 1973, Fred moved to a role in administration, where he remained until his retirement.
A couple of his Granbury players stated had these comments about him:
“He was fun to play for! He had a talent for putting players in positions where they would be their best. I know I loved that man!”
“He was much more than just my coach. He was my friend and mentor. He cared about us and wanted us to succeed. He encouraged me in college and in my career was instrumental in me becoming a coach.”
“Over all of my years, Coach Weir was the best at positively motivating his players to go out and perform not only to the best of their ability, but often even exceeding their perceived abilities.”
Fred was blessed with a loving wife that always supported his teams. Together, they share two daughters, two sons-in-law, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
RACHEL COLLINS DOWNEY, ATHLETIC | MODERN
After growing up in Granbury, Rachel Collins Downey graduated from Granbury High School in 2003. She is the youngest of three daughters to the late David Collins and the late Janet Collins Hanna, high school sweethearts who will always be remembered in Granbury for their kindness and contributions to the community.
While a Lady Pirate student-athlete, Rachel won the 2003 State Championship in the 3200m and was State Runner-up in the 1600m. Collins holds the school record for the 3200m (10:39.26), the 1600m (4.56.15), and the 800m (2:15.40).
Rachel now lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband Stephen and their two children, Huxley and Paxton. The Downey family enjoys the active outdoor lifestyle that Boulder so famously offers. She works at Headsweats, a startup athletic apparel and headwear company and is still an avid runner who has recently fallen in love with long trail races.
ERIC TOMLINSON, ATHLETIC | MODERN
Eric Tomlinson was born and raised in Granbury. He is the second of three sons to Ronnie and Lyn Tomlinson, who still reside in Granbury.
In 1994, Tomlinson was named All-District 6-4A Newcomer of the Year as the Pirate Baseball freshman pitcher. After graduating from Granbury High School in 1997, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the amateur draft. He began his college career at Texas State University then transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, where he pitched for the Texas Longhorns in the College World Series. While in Austin, Tomlinson contributed both as a pitcher and outfielder, showcasing his versatility as a dual-position athlete. He appeared in seven games for the Longhorns during the 2000 season, posting a rookie pitching record of 2 wins, 0 losses, with a 4.76 ERA across 11.1 innings of relief.
Tomlinson’s place on the Longhorns’ roster places him in a long tradition of dedicated and versatile Texas student-athletes. Being named among the university’s letterwinners speaks to both his talent, skill and commitment.
ACADEMIC HOF
CHASE MILLSAP, ACADEMIC | FORMER STUDENT
Chase Millsap graduated valedictorian of Granbury High School’s Class of 2001. The son of a Granbury High School English Teacher was a remarkable high school student with a rare combination intellect, insight, and kindness, whose intellectual curiosity was boundless.
September 11th happened during Millsap’s Plebe Year at the United States Naval Academy. The tragic events ultimately shifted his ambition from becoming a pilot to serving as a Marine infantry officer. He deployed to Iraq, completing three combat tours in Al-Anbar Province as a Marine lieutenant. Later, Millsap transitioned to the U.S. Army, earning a Green Beret and leading counter-terrorism missions across Southwest Asia. After returning from service, Millsap was determined to help an Iraqi officer who saved his life during a sniper attack. HIs experience led him to co-founding the Ronin Refugee Project, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting wartime allies in securing refuge in the U.S.
In 2016, Millsap earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from USC’s Price School of Public Policy. Blending his military experience with his creativity, Millsap became Chief Content Officer at We Are The Mighty, producing content centered on military and veteran narratives. He contributed as a writer and consultant for a CBS sitcom and produced a National Geographic short.
Millsap is celebrated as a Marine, Green Beret, and storyteller who brings battlefield truth to Hollywood storytelling. Though currently in Ukraine working on a documentary, Chase otherwise resides in Los Angeles.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK GRANBURY, ACADEMIC | COMMUNITY
Founded in 1887, First National Bank of Granbury quickly established itself as a steadfast pillar of the Granbury community. True to its slogan, “Your Hometown Bank,” the institution prides itself on personalized service, integrity, and community relationships.
Over the decades, First National Bank has built a legacy of perseverance and support. By the late 1980s, the bank expanded its footprint across Hood County. Today, it operates 6 locations in the county, a full-service center in Cleburne, and recently announced its next branch location in Glen Rose.
First National’s commitment to education is evident through its philanthropy, especially throughout Granbury ISD. The bank’s century of commitment to the community reflects its core belief in investing in future generations. First National Bank of Granbury has exemplified what it means to be a hometown partner.
BIFF & NANCY PETERSON, ACADEMIC | FORMER STAFF
Biff and Nancy Peterson’s journey began at Robert E. Lee High School (now Tyler Legacy) where Biff, then the Head Baseball Coach, and Social Studies teacher Nancy were chaperones at the Winter Formal.
In 1986, Biff became the youngest Head Football Coach in Tyler Lee history and quickly led the school to its first playoff appearance. He became known not just for wins, but for building young men of character. As a classroom teacher, Nancy taught honors-level courses with high expectations and deep compassion for her students, providing stability at home and in the classroom, especially during football seasons.
In 1996, the Petersons made Granbury their home. Biff became Head Football Coach and Nancy joined the high school faculty. Their early years in the community were marked by hard work and a deep commitment to making Granbury home for their family of four.
After earning his principal certification, Biff began working with at-risk youth, bringing the same passion and coaching mentality that once led teams to the playoffs. To this day, former students stop him in town to say, “You were the first person who believed in me.” Nancy continued her career in curriculum development and teacher training before eventually returning to Granbury High School as Social Studies Department Chair.
Beyond public education, Biff and Nancy Peterson built a legacy through their quiet, consistent service. Though Biff officially retired in 2011 and Nancy in 2014, neither truly left service. Together, they’ve become pillars of the Granbury community. Biff served as President of United Way of Hood County, drove for Meals on Wheels, mentored through Rancho Brazos, Royal Family Kids’ Camp, and Granbury Middle School. Nancy volunteers with the Granbury Education Foundation, subs at GHS, teaches Ladies’ Bible Class, tutors for state testing, and continues to serve quietly wherever needed. Together, they serve twice weekly at the Granbury Church of Christ’s food pantry and continue to serve the community in countless ways.
"Pirate Pete", Granbury’s inflatable football tunnel mascot, bears Biff’s legacy in name, voted on by the student body in 2000 as a tribute.
Education runs deep in the Peterson lineage. Their daughter Kylee is a teacher at Granbury High School. Their son Kason is a high school ag teacher at Krum High School where he and his wife Kendall reside. Biff and Nancy are the proud grandparents of Miss Emma Jane Peterson.