Michael Clements
Pender’s Music Co. & Music 1st
From left, Richard Gore (’80), Betty Gore, Steven Gore (’10), Becky Wenzel Gore (’81), Ray Gore (’82, ’83 M.B.A.) and David Gore carry on the family music business founded by patriarch Harold Gore (’52) in Denton, Southlake and Frisco.
“We learned a lot of the dynamic of the family-owned business by osmosis,” Lindy Rydman says. Spec’s began as a 1,000-square-foot store in Houston and has expanded into a chain that now includes more than 3,000 employees in 158 stores across Texas. Spec’s introduced wines to the stores in 1974 and added sandwiches, crackers and cheese in the 1980s. The Rydmans’ daughter, Lisa Rydman, has joined them in the business, too. Today, they say they used the skills learned at UNT to orchestrate the success of their growing business. “I am a conductor even today for a company, trying to dream up this stuff and get everybody to play their part,” says John Rydman, who played saxophone as his primary instrument at UNT and planned to become a band director. Lindy Rydman uses tips from her music education classes in helping train employees. She says that special training and the family feel of the business give Spec’s customers a welcoming experience — and make its employees feel valued. “I really think the secret to our success is getting people involved, feeling like a part of our family and knowing that the most important thing we do every day is take care of the guest,” she says. “We offer old-fashioned 1950s service like you used to get at a gas station when people would come out and clean your windows, check your tires and check under the hood.” UNT and music brought the Rydmans together — and they have supported both over the years. In 2001, they gave $1
million to UNT through Spec’s Charitable Foundation to endow the One O’Clock Lab Band Fund, providing for the annual operations of the Grammy-nominated band and using the excess for jazz scholarships. John Rydman helped arrange for the band to perform with the Houston Symphony and at the Spec’s flagship store in downtown Houston in 2010. “It’s been quite a fun ride,” he says.
Influence of incubator The reputation of the music school and a high school band director’s encouragement inspired the young clarinetist Harold Gore (’52) to attend North Texas “on a hope and a prayer,” says his son, Richard Gore (’80). After graduating, Harold Gore became a band director, and in 1967, he purchased Pender’s College Store, then a soda shop with art supplies and just a few shelves of sheet music on Mulberry Street. In 1989, Pender’s moved to its current spot — a former furniture store near the Denton square. “Music changed the entire trajectory of our family,” says Richard Gore, president of Pender’s Music Co., who has overseen day-to-day operations since 1985. “None of this would have been possible if he hadn’t made that decision — to step out of what he knew and go to North Texas.” Early on, Harold Gore sent a folding order form with a return postage paid envelope to customers. He mailed sheet music, and in return, people sent a check, cash or money order.