San Antonio Movers and Shakers

James M. “Jimmy” Cavender III 9/24/2011

Founder, Cavender Auto Group

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Jimmy Cavender was born on March 14th, 1930 to James M. Cavender, Jr. and his wife Nancy along with his twin brother William B. “Billy” Cavender. As young boys the twins enjoyed playing in their Alamo Heights neighborhood on Rosemary Drive attending Alamo Heights High School. Jimmy was president of his senior graduating class in 1948. The family loved taking road trips up to the Frio River in Leakey, Texas where they still have residence to this day. Jimmy’s grandfather Dr. James M. Cavender, Sr. was from the small town of Sabinal where he worked as a dentist for the area surrounding this hill country community after retiring from his dental practice in San Antonio.

Jimmy’s father James M. “Big Jim” Cavender was busy raising two twin boys and working as a sales manager in the Chevrolet Motor Division in the late 1930’s in Houston. Prior to that, he attended Main High School in San Antonio and later worked as a salesman for Goad Cadillac which was located at 317 Lexington Avenue. During that time he met his wife Nancy when her brother brought her in to buy her a Cadillac. Big Jim moved from Houston to San Antonio in 1939 and became a Sales Manager for E.A. Kinsel Motor Company which sold Oldsmobiles at its downtown location at 801 Broadway. In 1939, Mr. Kinsel sold his interest to Jim Cavender and the legacy of the Cavender family of dealerships began. Cavender Cadillac still maintains this original location downtown at Broadway and 8th St.

After graduating from Alamo Heights High School in 1948, the two boys attended the University of Texas in Austin where they were members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Jimmy served as the President of the fraternity in 1952 and was a member of the Texas Cowboys on the university campus. He married Judith Gosnell in 1954 and they have recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. Judy Cavender is daughter to the late Bishop Harold and Marjory Gosnel. Bishop Gosnell served as Rector for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church from 1968 until 1988. Thereafter, he presided as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese for West Texas.

Both Jimmy and Billy grew up working in a variety of positions around the Oldsmobile dealership. From parts stock boys to service advisors and later to sales, they could literally tell every employee that “I know what you do because I did it too”. And through the years the boys began lifelong relationships with their valued customers in San Antonio and South Texas. And it can be said after you meet Jimmy, if you didn’t know him before he will make you feel like he has known you for life!

In 1979 the Cavender twins purchased Riata Cadillac from Mr. Frank Late. The two brothers flipped a coin and Billy took the position of dealer at Cadillac while Jimmy stayed at Oldsmobile. Billy also took his twin sons Billy and Bobby and later his youngest son Stuart with him to work in the store. Jimmy invited his sons Rick and Stephen to join him at Oldsmobile. His oldest son Mark decided to venture out and now is President of Cavender and Hill Properties a successful Commercial Real Estate company.

Jimmy served as King Antonio LII in 1974 after being elected by the membership of the Texas Cavaliers. He was President of the Texas Automobile Dealers in 1975 leading the interests of over 1,400 franchised auto and truck dears across the state. He served on the Board of the San Antonio Better Business Bureau. He is a member of the San Antonio Country Club, The Argyle Club, Club Giraud, the Order of the Alamo and the San Antonio German Club. He also served on the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Board.

Jimmy has been a long time supporter of the Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children. He still provides a transportation van for the children at the school and has done so since 1963. He began a sponsorship of Little League Baseball in 1962 and the Cavender name is now the longest standing sponsor in the Alamo Heights Little League. He stays active as both a sponsor and a supporter for the University of Texas in Austin and UTSA in San Antonio.

Jimmy Cavender at 81 years of age is still active at both his current dealerships spending his mornings with his son Stephen at Cavender Toyota and his afternoons with his son Rick at Cavender Audi. He loves to meet his customers and he attends all of his employees celebrations and knows most of them by first name. And he still writes hand written thank you notes to his customers. He plays a role very similar to his late Father. He has no plan to retire from his beloved profession!

Title: Jimmy Cavender
Date: 2011-09-24

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