August Pust Interview Slovenian born American Patriot By Dan Hanson June 10, 2026
August Pust was born 1938 in Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia and arrived in New York City Harbor, USA, as student/visitor in December 1957. He has had a remarkable and important life that continues to this day. I was fortunate to visit his historic home right on Lake Erie in Euclid Ohio and talk. My sister Debbie had visited August and his wife Gloria several times but this was my first visit. The house is packed with rooms of medals, awards, proclamations and various honors. Not to mention his stunning works of art.
In this interview at the bottom of the page you will hear August tell part of his amazing journey to becoming, as he says, an American Patriot. Here are just a few highlights of the interview and photos from August at home.
August Pust came to the USA with a student visa at the age of 19 to pursue his arts and graphics career, to fulfill his dreams to pursue freedom and equality, to become professional, and to hopefully become a US citizen, which he did January 9, 1970. Since 1976 he has lived in Euclid, Ohio and was married to his wife Gloria A. Pust (nee Zupancic) for 61 years before she passed in 2024. He has one daughter, Adriana A. Pust.
August Pust with one of his medals
After graduating from Cooper School of Art in Cleveland, Ohio he also attended several managerial courses at Western Reserve University and marketing seminars. He worked as a layout and design illustrator at Lasalle Art Studio. He because the youngest and only foreign-born Editor and Art Director at Penton Publishing.
He was also a supervisor and manager or graphics and marketing at Premier Industrial in Cleveland, and then served in the graphics/communications department in Cleveland City Hall. His art work was displayed at various exhibits including being selected to participate in international artist colonies and art shows. He also created, illustrated and published in 1975 a selection of Slovenian landscape and cultural heritage post card set entitled "I Remember Slovenia".
August Pust painting of Slovenia landscape
August Pust annual Governor's Residence art
Since retiring from public service, he has continued his passion for art. He was selected to be a featured artist at the International Fine Arts Colonies in Italian/Slovenian Territory in 2003 and also at the International Fine Arts Colonies in the Szentgotthard Hungarian Region in 2010.
During his more than thirty-year career in U.S. public service, August B. Pust, not only coordinated multicultural relations, but participated, organized, and led various trade, humanitarian, educational, cultural, and goodwill missions abroad. His specialty was focused on the development of programs and initiatives in the non-governmental sector to foster civil societies, democratic systems, especially on training and exchange programs for young professionals.
His efforts led to better global understanding and development of friendly people-to-people relationships, especially among international universities. As a governmental employee he coordinated global partnerships among municipal, regional, and state officials.
He was a major part in the development of a new concept of American Citizens Diplomacy to the highest level, which became an example for others to follow. For his efforts he received many commendations and was named in 2002 "Citizen Diplomat" by the National Council for International Visitors. He advocated and presented several key addresses at international forums, multicultural summits, and universities. Mr. Pust received in 1999 the most prestigious degree of Doctor Honoris Causa, an honorary doctorate from Valachia University, Romania.
August Pust with Senator Frank Lausche and Mayor George Voinovich
He served on the Board of Trustees of the Council of International Programs USA and in several organizations dealing with the research and preservation of the history of American immigrants.
He was the Director of Multicultural Affairs & International Relations in the Governor's Office, State of Ohio (1991-2002) and he served as Executive Assistant to Cleveland Mayors George Voinovich and Michael White, for Ethnic Affairs/International Relations.
Cleveland Mayors Ralph Perk, George Voinovich, and Michael White hand-picked him as an assistant administrator for managing and directing various heritage, ethnic, religious and nationalities programs, building bridges between cultural and diversity groups and promoting international people-to-people programs. He was awarded honorary mayor by Mayor Voinovich in 1989 and received the Key to the City by Mayor Voinovich in 1992 and Mayor White in 1991.
Key to the City of Cleveland
Mr. Pust served on the U.S. Bicentennial Projects Committee and was a founding member of the Greater Cleveland Ethnographic Museum, serving as its first chairman. In 1990 he testified on International Relations before US Congress. As part of the Governor's Constituent Affairs, he served twelve years for Governors Voinovich and Bob Taft as their Director of Multicultural Affairs and International Relations for the State of Ohio, which was the first such position in Ohio. Appointed by President George W. Bush, Pust served as a Member of the US Commission of the Preservation of America's Heritage abroad from 2001-2006 as part of the State Department of the US.
August Pust meeting the Dalai Lama
Mr. Pust was involved in a special project for bringing the 2004 International Children's Games to USA - which attracted to Cleveland over 3000 young athletes from 55 countries and was supported by over 100 multicultural groups.
Mr. Pust is the recipient of many citations and awards in recognition of his work. Included among the honors is the "Citizen Diplomat" award from the National Council for International Visitors, the "Honorary Order of the Freedom Medal" from the President of the Republic of Slovenia, the "Ohio Distinguished Service Medal" and the prestigious "Freedom Medal" awarded by the American Nationalities Movement for his promotion of new democracies.
In May of 2008 he received at a gala celebration in the New York City the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, one of the most prestigious awards in USA.
August Pust Ellis Island Medal
August Pust Spirit of Ellis Island designs
He has been honored for his contributions as "Slovenian Man of the Year 2008". He is a founding member, and served on the Boards of Slovenian American Heritage Foundation, Slovenian American National Art Guild, and Slovenian Museum and Archives.
"I am living the American Dream, and I encourage new immigrants to make their dreams into reality and to contribute to our rich American mosaic," said Pust.
In 2010 August was inducted into the inaugural class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame in 2010.
He was a founding member and first chairman of the Greater Cleveland Ethnographic Museum in 1976. He received the "Outstanding Service Award" by the Nationalities Services Center in 1986 and the International Services Center in 1988. He was named "The Slovenian Man of the Year 2008" and was awarded the Hungarian Knightly Order of Vitez in 1990 and was inducted into the Order of Szent Laszlo in 1998.
He became an "International Fellow" after attending the International Leadership studies at Colorado College in 1990. He was awarded a "Doctor Honoris Causa" honorary PhD from the Romanian University at Valachia in 1999 and in 1994 was awarded the title of Honorary Senator from the University Medical School of Pecs, Hungary for his "splendid and farsighted munificence".
August Pust sworn in at the Supreme Court
Included among the honors is the "Citizen Diplomat" award from the National Organization of International Visitors Council, Inc. and being recognized as an "Outstanding Public Servant" by the Federation of German American Societies. Pust is also a recipient of the "Living the Legacy" award in January 1991 by the City of Cleveland which is given in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his commitment to racial and cultural diversity and to universal human rights. He became an honorary member of the Ohio Shawnee Piqua Nation Tribe in 1992.
He worked as a civilian liaison during the Balkan crisis, and participated in training of NATO troops in 1992-1996. He received the "Ohio Distinguished Service Medal" from the Ohio National Guard in 1996 and became an honorary member of the National Slavic Honor Society in 1998. In 2001, Governor Bob Taft awarded Pust an Executive Order of Commodore for Outstanding Service and Contributions to the State of Ohio and became known as "Ohio's Ambassador".
He received a Proclamation of Gratitude for the Support and Recognition from the newly elected government leaders of the Republic of Slovenia in 1992 and in 2002 he received the "Honorary Order of the Freedom Medal" also from the President of Slovenia.
Throughout his career, he served as a Protocol Office and represented Ohio to the United Nations and abroad and became known as the "Ohio's Goodwill Ambassador". For his involvement, support, and promotion of the Ohio State Fair, he became an honorary Parade Marshal in 1992. And so on.
