Class of 1981

Dana Daniels is a Splendora High School Class of 1981 graduate. In the spring of 1982, Dana joined the U.S. Army. He served four years and trained to become a firefighter. After he got out of the Army, he returned to Texas and worked for the Galveston Fire Department for 7 years. He then moved to the Houston Fire Department, where he has been for over 25 years, and is currently on the pumper truck. Dana has been married to Mary Ruhaak Daniels for 31 years and they have three daughters: Amanda, Callie, and Katie. Amanda and Callie are Splendora High School graduates and Katie is a senior.

When asked what does it mean to be a Wildcat, Dana replied, "Being a Wildcat means always standing up for what you believe in and helping each other up when they fall.”

Regina Arnold Vollmer is a Splendora High School Class of 1981 graduate. After graduation, Regina began her career in the retail industry. After 13 years, she moved into finance. She worked as a senior credit analyst for four years and then in 1997 she became a loan officer/processor of mortgage loans. For 21 years, Regina worked in the finance industry, but was also working on a new career. In 2014, she earned her real estate license, retired from the finance industry, and began working in real estate. Not only a realtor, she was also a volunteer with the Splendora High School Athletic Booster Club. After her youngest graduated from SHS in 2016, Regina focused on being a realtor full time in the community she grew up in and loves! She has been married to Dale Vollmer for 29 years and they have three daughters: Amanda, Clarissa, and Maranda.

When asked what does it mean to be a Wildcat, Regina replied, "Going to school in Splendora was an experience that stays with you forever. The pride within the school that overflows into the community is amazing. The support you receive from teachers, coaches, and staff is over the top.  Being a Wildcat is a sense of pride you take with you through all avenues of life.”

Julie Albertson graduated from Splendora High School in 1981 and has been baking ever since. In 1988, The Texas Pie Company was established “with a rolling pin and a plan,” according to Chef Albertson. She uses her family recipes to bake for restaurants in
Central Texas and if you have eaten pie in that area in the last 30+ years, you have probably eaten one of Julie’s. She has been named SBA Women-Owned Small Business of the Year 2020, Governor’s Small Business of the Year 2016, City of Kyle Small Business of the Year 2017, and HEB Quest for Texas Best Grand Champion for 2016. She has been featured in numerous magazines and television spots. When she isn’t baking, she is a performance artist in San Antonio - as “Catrina” for Day of the Dead in San Antonio’s Muertos Fest, and a Feature in the King Williams Parade during Fiesta. Just like her pies, she loves creating handmade costumes that are eclectic and visually stunning.

What does it mean to be a SHS Wildcat? “Being fearless when I am afraid, being tenacious when I am told ‘no’, never backing down from a challenge, and striving to be the best me that  I can be.” 

Jimmy Spivey, a proud Splendora High School Class of 1981 graduate, has carried the values learned in Splendora ISD—hard work, integrity, and perseverance—through a remarkable career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

Mr. Spivey is the Chief of the Mission Systems Division in the Flight Operations Directorate, where he oversees 3 major contracts and leads more than 700 civil servants and contractor personnel with a $160 million annual budget. He is responsible for the operations of NASA’s Mission Control Center, Mission Training Center, and Space Vehicle Mockup Facility—key hubs that support astronaut training, real-time mission operations, and the future of human spaceflight.

With 37 years at NASA, he began his career as a Space Shuttle Flight Controller and helped support 50 shuttle missions. Today, he plays a major role in International Space Station operations, including Commercial Crew and Cargo, while helping lead preparations for NASA's Artemis program and future lunar exploration.

His leadership has earned him numerous honors, including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, and the Johnson Space Center Director's Commendation Award for his role in the success of Artemis I.

A graduate of Lamar University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Jimmy and his wife Nancy (SHS Class of 1981) have three daughters and five grandchildren.

When asked what it means to be a Wildcat, Jimmy emphasizes never giving up—believing that success comes from always giving your best effort, even when the outcome is uncertain.

We are proud to recognize Jimmy Spivey as our next Cool Cat, celebrating a legacy of leadership, service, and Wildcat pride that reaches beyond Earth.

Curtis Peterson, a proud 1981 graduate of Splendora High School, truly embodies the Wildcat spirit. During his time at SHS, Curtis shone as a three-year letterman in track and earned a state berth in cross-country his senior year—a testament to his drive, discipline, and determination.

After graduation, Curtis began working in the construction industry before choosing a new path that would shape the rest of his life: joining the United States Air Force. What followed was an incredible journey of service and adventure. He was first stationed in Abilene, Texas, where his unit deployed multiple times, including during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. His career then took him to Okinawa, Japan, where he immersed himself in the island’s rich culture and traditions. Curtis later continued his service in Charleston, South Carolina, before retiring from the Air Force in 2004.

Service remains central to Curtis’s life. He is a proud and dedicated volunteer with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), where he has earned the distinction of being a three-time All-American District Commander. He is now continuing his leadership journey by running for Junior Vice Commander for the Department of South Carolina. He and his wife, Sharen, have two daughters, Dwan Dunne and Alicia Irby, and have seven grandchildren 

For the past decade, Curtis has also served the Medical University of South Carolina in Logistics, bringing the same dedication and work ethic he cultivated as a Wildcat and airman.

“For me, being a Wildcat was an incredible experience—roaming the hallways, learning from great teachers, and feeling the school spirit that pushed us to be better every day,” said Peterson.

We’re proud to celebrate Curtis Peterson as our January Cool Cat—an inspiring example of leadership, perseverance, service, and lifelong Wildcat pride.