Jimmy Cavender

3/14/1930 to 3/29/2016

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. The family loved taking road trips to their river home in Leakey, Texas where the Cavenders gather, entertain and enjoy friends to this day.

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. 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 auto dealerships began. Cavender Cadillac maintained this original location downtown at Broadway and 8th St until 2015.

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.

But the most significant event of Jimmy Cavender's college career occurred when he met and fell in love with Judith Gosnell. Jimmy and Judy were married in 1954, and enjoyed 61 years of marriage building a family and extended family firmly committed to each other and the community of San Antonio.

Like his sons and nephews who followed him into business, Jimmy grew up working in a variety of positions around the Oldsmobile dealership. From parts stock boy to service advisor and later to sales, he could literally tell every employee that "I know what you do because I did it too". And through the years he and his family began lifelong relationships with their valued customers in San Antonio and South Texas. It can be said after you met Jimmy Cavender, if you didn't know him before, he made you feel like he has known you all your life!

In 1979 Jimmy and his twin brother Billy purchased Riata Cadillac. 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 1984 leading the interests of over 1,400 franchised auto and truck dealers across the state. In 1983, Jimmy was recognized by Time Magazine and the National Automobile Dealers Association as a "Time Quality Dealer". He served on the Board of the San Antonio Better Business Bureau. He was 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 and was a past Senior Warden of St. Mark's Church.

In 2014 Jimmy Cavender was honored with the highest recognition bestowed by the Texas Automobile Dealers Association as a TADA Legend.

Jimmy has been a longtime supporter of the Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children. He began donating vehicles to transport children at the school in 1963 and his gesture through Cavender Toyota continues today. Along with his father and brother, 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 was active as both a sponsor and a supporter for the University of Texas in Austin and UTSA in San Antonio.

James M. Cavender III is predeceased by his parents James M. Jr. and Nancy B. Cavender and his brother William B. Cavender. His survivors include his wife Judith Gosnell Cavender and his son Mark and wife Susan Cavender, his son Rick and wife Suzanne Cavender and his son Stephen and his wife Kelly Cavender. Grandchildren include Courtney Cavender Smith and her husband Tobin, Claire Cavender, Kate Cavender and Brooks Cavender. Additional survivors include brother and sister in law Hal and Mickey Gosnell and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jimmy Cavender was still active at the age of 86 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 loved greeting his employees and celebrating their success and wellness. He also loved meeting his customers and getting daily sales reports from his nephews Billy, Bobby and Stuart. Personal service was his legacy, and he expressed his gratitude to his friends and customers every day through hand written personal thank you notes until his passing.

The Cavender family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Doctor Fernando Lopez and the caring staff of other doctors, nurses and attendants at the Methodist Transplant Hospital and the Methodist Texsan Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Texas Cavalier Charitable Foundation, Po Box 6927, San Antonio, Texas 78209; Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children, 603 E. Hildebrand, San Antonio, Texas 78212; Morningside Ministries, 700 Babcock Road, San Antonio, Texas 78201; St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 315 E. Pecan, San Antonio, Texas 78205; or a charity of your choice.

Pallbearers: Gene Ames, Jr., Bartlett Cocke, Jr., George E. Fischer, James W. Gorman, Jr., Col. Robert (Bob) Kelso, A.J. (Jack) Lewis, Jr., John K. Mitchell, Richard M. (Dick) Peacock, Dr. Ricardo Romo, Paul Rubio, Robert G. (Bob) Spalten, Ricks Wilson, Sr. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Texas Cavaliers Kings Council.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

MONDAY

APRIL 4, 2016

2:00 P.M.

ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

315 EAST PECAN