In 28 years as Engineer-Manager of the St. Clair County Road Commission (1943-1971), Ash established a statewide reputation as an innovator and pace-setter, particularly in the financing of road improvements. He inaugurated Michigan's first match-money program utilizing matching monies from the county and townships for local road improvements. In the early 1960's, he developed the state's first bonding program to build access roads for the new Intestate Freeway System. These and other successes, and a record of sound management, led to his election as one of the nation's top ten public works men in 1969 and the nation's outstanding urban county engineer in 1970.