Charles August
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman who founded Monro Muffler Brake.
August's career in automotive maintenance and repair began as a Midas Muffler
Midas Muffler
Midas, Inc. is a chain of automotive service centers headquartered in Itasca, Illinois. In the main markets of the United States and Canada, Midas stores are company-owned or franchised...
franchisee in 1957 in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. In 1966, he discontinued his affiliation with Midas. August launched a new company, Monro Muffler, the same year with two business partner
Business partner
Business partner is a term used to denote a commercial entity with which another commercial entity has some form of alliance. This relationship may be a highly contractual, exclusive bond in which both entities commit not to ally with third parties...
s, his brother, Burton S. August, and Sheldon Lane. The company was named for Monroe County, New York
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
, except August dropped the "e" in the name. The company later added brake service several years later and was renamed Monro Muffler Brake, Incorporated.
In 1977, Monro Muffler had twenty stores in New York. By the mid-1980s, August's Monro Mufflers had expanded to 59 stores, which sales of $21 million per year. Most of these stores were located in upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
.
August sold his controlling interest
Controlling interest
Controlling interest in a corporation means to have control of a large enough block of voting stock shares in a company such that no one stock holder or coalition of stock holders can successfully oppose a motion...
in Monro Mufflers in 1984 to an investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
group headed by Donald Glickman and Peter J. Solomon. The company later had its initial public offering in 1991. August remained as a member of the Monro Muffler board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
during the 1990s, when the company rapidly expanded. He resigned and retired from the board in 2002.
August actively supported the Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
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. He was rewarded the Silver Antelope Award and the Silver Beaver citation for his involvement with the Boy Scouts.
He donated more than $1 million dollars to the United Way of Greater Rochester
Rochester, New York metropolitan area
The Rochester, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area , as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in Western New York, anchored by the city of Rochester...
over a period of 10 years. The United Way awarded August with the Tocqueville Award in 1992.
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
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
. August was also a founder of the Temple Sinai in Brighton and a member of the board of directors of the Jewish Home Foundation.
August originally resided in Brighton, Monroe County, New York
Brighton, Monroe County, New York
Brighton is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 36,609 at the 2010 census.-History:The Town of Brighton, located on the southeast border of the city of Rochester, was originally settled approximately 1790, and formally established in 1814—earning it recognition as one...
, with his family for many years before moving to nearby Pittsford, New York
Pittsford (town), New York
Pittsford is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States and is an affluent suburb of Rochester. The population was 29,405 at the 2010 census....
.
August died on November 3, 2009, at the age of 90. He was survived by his wife, Jean August; his brother and co-founder of Monro Mufflers, Burton August; and three grown children - Susan Eastwood, Jan August and Andrew August. His memorial service was held at the Temple Sinai
Temple Sinai
Temple Sinai may refer to:*Temple Sinai *Temple Sinai *Temple Sinai , listed on the NRHP in South Carolina*Temple Sinai...
in Brighton, New York.