During those twenty-six years, Cavender worked closely with William Revelli to develop the Michigan Band into a globally recognized performance group.

[1][7][5] During World War II, Cavender attained the rank of Major while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps,[2] commanding a group of tanks in the South Pacific.

[9][7] As a newly hired faculty member, Cavender served as an instructor of music[7] and was appointed Assistant Director of the University of Michigan Bands in 1952.

[9] Cavender played a significant role, including logistical support, on the University of Michigan Symphony Band's 15-week performance tour of the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East in 1961.

[11] Cavender is credited with creating the simple lyrics of "Let's Go Blue" in a moment of enthusiastic improvisation after the song had been played several times at a hockey game in Yost Ice Arena.

[3][8] During his tenure as the Director of the MMB, Cavender strove to build upon the band's success achieved in the preceding decades.

[14] After the passage of the Education Amendments of 1972 which included Title IX, Cavender oversaw the integration of women into the Michigan Marching Band in 1972.

When asked about it during an interview for The Michigan Daily, Cavender took sole credit for the change, describing it as a "program of action, not reaction.

When asked why he thought more women had not auditioned for the band, Cavender replied, "Gals aren't as interested in any activity as violently physical as marching."

[5] Cavender championed the fund-raising efforts needed to build a modern practice facility for the band, Revelli Hall.

[5] On May 1, 1990, the Regents of the University of Michigan named Cavender a Professor Emeritus of Music just prior to his retirement from faculty life on May 31 of that same year.