WICHITA, Kansas, July 29, 2008 – You may not think twice about it during your day, but sound is one Wichita company’s bread and butter.

Richard McClelland and his siblings remember spending summers with their dad at rodeos, baseball games and hundreds of outdoor events. But he wasn’t there for the cotton candy and peanuts. He was there for the sound, which he provided for the events.

“At that time he even built his own amplifiers and things because you couldn't buy PA amplifiers,” said President and CEO of McClelland Sound. “It was all tube type equipment and it basically ran on A and B batteries because you did not have power in all these locations.”

H.W. McClelland, or 'Mac' as he is known, started out as a Physics and Music major at K-State. He started building radios by hand and selling them to department stores in the area. His business really took off when he hit the road and started providing sound amplification for events like rodeos or when notable people came to town like Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The business grew once people finally realized the importance of microphones and speakers.

“You're running sound systems and somebody says 'OK, can you put a permanent sound system in my church?’” Richard said.

McClelland sound has installed and repaired or upgraded systems at huge venues like the Salina Bicentennial Center and Topeka Expocentre along with many churches, industrial centers and retailers in Kansas.

Now, Richard is passing the mic to one of his daughters.

“We're a corporation and my daughter and her husband are in the company now,” he said. “My daughter has now bought over 50 percent of the stock.”

The next generation has brought new ideas like video conferencing systems and they are expanding their Muzak franchise business, which provides background music. And the company continues to thrive and embrace change and business competition.

“We don't have any competition,” Richard says with a laugh.

Actually they do, but with their solid track record, the state’s most established sound business has amplified their chances for future success.