August “Gus” Buenz was born and raised in Ogallala, Nebraska, and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1960.
Buenz joined General Motors’ public relations staff in Oct. 1962 upon his release from the U.S. Army.  Buenz worked in news relations for GM in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago and Indianapolis. He was appointed director of public relations for GM’s Oldsmobile Division in 1987 and later appointed director of communications for GM’s Fleet and Commercial Sales Division in 2001.
Buenz wound up his career as director of communications for GM’s Latin America-Africa-Middle East region in 2003, retiring in Dec. 2004.