Hall of Fame Induction Year
1990
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Inductee Biography
August was born on October 17, 1919 in Czechoslovakia. He came to the United Sates with this family when he was 7, arriving through Ellis Island, and settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At the age of 17 he became a machine shop foreman with Kearney and Trecker in Milwaukee, and then moved to Pittsburgh, PA when the plant was re-tooled to make weapon parts during WWII. While in Pittsburgh, he married Irene Knotick of Milwaukee, his beloved wife and lifelong love, who predeceased him in 1977. They had three devoted children, Lawrence, Gerald, and Kathleen. His illustrious and extensive career spanned more than 60 years. In his 20’s, he began his career as a builder/developer when he purchased an apple orchard and then sub dived into a residential neighborhood in Milwaukee suburbs. He continued building in Wisconsin for several decades. His development included numerous residential subdivisions, apartment buildings, commercial buildings and shopping centers in and around the Milwaukee area. Moving to South Florida for health reasons in the early 1960’s, he established a real estate development company that built more than 3,000 condominium units over a ten year period. Included among these are the Breakers in Pompano Beach, Boca Towers, and the Ambassadors in Highlands Beach. Together with this late wife Irene, he formed the August and Irene (AU-RENE) Foundation for the Arts, Science, and Medicine. He was instrumental in furthering her dream of establishing a fine arts scene in Fort Lauderdale through donations to the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. His philanthropy, however, was not limited to the fine arts. Additional significant philanthropic donations Nova University, the University of Miami, and the Broward Community Foundation. He served as a Trustee on numerous boards for many years including Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, the Performing Arts Center Authority, and Nova Southeastern University. In addition, he was a founding member of the World Business Council. During his life he received significant recognition for his many accomplishments. In 1987, he received the Outstanding Philanthropist award from AFP Broward. In 1990, he was inducted into Nova University’s Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. In addition, he received the NSU Community President Award in 2005.
Digital Collection
Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame
Disciplines
Business
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