Charles August

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Monro Muffler.

Charles J. August (January 28, 1919 – November 3, 2009) was an American businessman who founded Monro Muffler Brake.[1][2]

August's career in automotive maintenance and repair began as a Midas Muffler franchisee in 1957 in Rochester, New York.[1] In 1966, he discontinued his affiliation with Midas.[2] August launched a new company, Monro Muffler, the same year with two business partners, his brother, , and .[1] The company was named for Monroe County, New York, except August dropped the "e" in the name.[1] The company later added brake service several years later and was renamed Monro Muffler Brake, Incorporated.[1]

In 1977, Monro Muffler had twenty stores in New York.[2] By the mid-1980s, August's Monro Mufflers had expanded to 59 stores, which sales of $21 million per year.[1] Most of these stores were located in upstate New York.

August sold his controlling interest in Monro Mufflers in 1984 to an investment group headed by and Peter J. Solomon.[1] The company later had its initial public offering in 1991.[2] August remained as a member of the Monro Muffler board of directors during the 1990s, when the company rapidly expanded.[2] He resigned and retired from the board in 2002.[2]

August actively supported the Boy Scouts during his life. He was a member of the Otetiana Council Boy Scouts of America for more than 60 years, and served as the council's president.[2] He was rewarded the Silver Antelope Award and the Silver Beaver citation for his involvement with the Boy Scouts.[2]

He donated more than $1 million to the United Way of Greater Rochester over a period of 10 years.[1] The United Way awarded August with the Tocqueville Award in 1992.[2]

August was named to the Rochester Business Hall of Fame in 2003. He was a member of the Nathaniel Rochester Society at Rochester Institute of Technology.[2] August was also a founder of the Temple Sinai in Brighton and a member of the board of directors of the Jewish Home Foundation.[2]

August originally resided in Brighton, Monroe County, New York, with his family for many years before moving to nearby Pittsford, New York.[1]

August died on November 3, 2009, at the age of 90.[1] He was survived by his wife, Jean August and three grown children.[1] His memorial service was held at the in Brighton, New York.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Tobin, Tom (November 4, 2009). "Monro Muffler founder Charles August dies". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Spicer, Velvet (November 4, 2009). "Monro Muffler founder dies". . Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
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