August founded the automotive repair company in 1957 as a franchise of Midas Muffler. In 1966 August discontinued his affiliation with Midas and the company took on the Monro name. By 1977 the company had some 20 stores. In 1984 a New York City group of investors bought a controlling interest in Monro and in 1991 the company made an initial public offering. August remained a board member throughout the company’s aggressive expansion during the 1990s. In 2002 he resigned as an active director of Monro.

August was past president of the Otetiana Council Boy Scouts of America and received the Silver Beaver citation and the Silver Antelope Award. His work with the Otetiana Council spans more than six decades. He was a member of the Nathaniel Rochester Society at Rochester Institute of Technology, as well as a University of Rochester associate. August also was a founding member of Temple Sinai and served on the Jewish Home Foundation board of directors. August also supported the United Way of Greater Rochester Inc. and in 1992 received the organization’s de Tocqueville Award for lifetime achievement as a community leader. In 2003 August was named to the Rochester Business Hall of Fame.