No more dedicated employee ever worked for the Department of State highways than Coons, who was deputy state highway commissioner and chief engineer for 22 years (1933-1955), longer than any other person. He was known throughout his profession as one of the nation's most able highway engineers and administrators. Four successive state highway commissioners of both major political parties named him their deputy. As a private contractor for 11 years, Coons was one of the main organizers of the Michigan Road Builders Association in 1928. He served as engineer-superintendent of the Ingham County Road Commission in 1923-1933 and was president in 1944 of the Mississippi Valley Conference of State highway Officials.