Dr. Major McKinley Ash, a world leader and icon in dentistry, died March 21, 2007 in Scottsdale, Arizona after a courageous battle with metastatic bone cancer.  He was 85.

Born in Bellaire, Michigan, on April 7, 1921, to Major McKinley and Marguerite (Early) Ash, he grew up in Miami, Florida.

He received his Electrical Engineering Degree at the Illinois Institute of Technology (EE) in 1942 and a certification in physics a year later from the University of Chicago.

During World War II he became certified in radar technology from the U.S. Army Institute repairing radar that was damaged on the war fronts.  He was seriously wounded during the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and the Croix de Guerre.

Returning from rehabilitation in Georgia and Florida, he resumed his education at Michigan State University.  There he met Fayola Foltz whom he married on September 2, 1947.  After graduating from Emory University Dental School, they moved to Ann Arbor where he resided for the rest of his life.

In 1947 Dr. Ash received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from MSU.  He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1951 from Emory University in Georgia and extended his education at the University of Michigan and earned a master’s degree in periodontics in 1954.  While working for that degree, he was an instructor in periodontics and oral pathology.  He was promoted to assistant professor in 1956, associate professor in 1959, and full professor in 1962.

During his distinguished 53-year career with the U-M School of Dentistry that began in 1953 and continued after he retired in 1989, Dr. Ash established a global reputation as a clinical researcher, prolific writer, mentor, and professor extraordinaire. 

Active throughout his career with numerous local, state, national, and international dental and periodontal associations, Dr. Ash was a Fellow with the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists; a consultant to the Northeast Regional Dental Boards; the Federation International Dentaire; the Commission on Oral Health, Research and Epidemiology; the ADA Council on Dental Therapeutics; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; a member of numerous honorary societies; President of the Michigan State Basic Science Board; and an examiner in pathology for medical, osteopathic and chiropractic applicants who wished to practice in Michigan.

He also has been listed for many years in the Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Science, and Who’s Who in the World.  As part of his international reputation, he received an honorary Doctorate of Medicine from the University Of Bern, Switzerland in 1976.

At the University of Michigan, Dr. Ash founded and chaired the first occlusion department in the United States from 1969-1987, directed the TMJ/Oral Facial Pain Clinic and Stomatognathic Physiology Laboratory from 1969-1987 and was a member of many School of Dentistry committees, including several appointments to the Executive Committee.  He received the U-M School of Dentistry’s Distinguished Service Award in 1992.

Dr. Ash was named the Marcus L. Ward Professor of Dentistry in 1984.  When he retired he was named Marcus L. Ward Professor of Dentistry Emeritus, Professor Emeritus, and Research Scientist Emeritus in 1989.

Dr. Ash published more than 200 articles in scientific journals and was well known for his 70 textbooks, some of which have been published in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Polish.

During his career Dr. Ash also did field research with the Nubians in Southern Egypt, developed the first miniaturized electronic tooth, and was mentor to over 100 graduate students which forged friendships that lasted over the years

As an educator, Dr. Ash developed and nurtured a passion for writing.  “Writing wasn't a big part of my life until I began reviewing graduate students’ research and reading the theses they wrote,” he said in a feature that appeared in the School of Dentistry's alumni magazine, DentalUM in 2002.  He said that before personal computers and word processing software, “I would read a paper and, if I thought it didn't flow smoothly, I would cut it up, reorganize it, paste the strips of paper together with tape, and then ask my secretary to retype it. When my sons and daughter were younger, they got a big kick out of watching me.”

The last fifteen winters were enjoyed in Scottsdale, Arizona.  He continued to be active as an author, editor, reviewer, and mentor from both locations.  He was a long time member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor.

Dr. Ash’s four children and five grandchildren have carried on his tradition of excellence in their professional lives, dedication to their spiritual and intellectual undertakings, and are proud to be a part of an individual that was in every way a gentleman, a scholar, and role model.

There will be a memorial service later in April with the date to be announced.

The family requests donations be made to The Dr. Major Ash Collegiate Professorship, care of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Office of Alumni Relations and Development, 540 E. Liberty Street, Suite 204, Ann Arbor, MI  48104-2210.  Please make checks payable to the U-M School of Dentistry.  Gifts may also be made to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (bgea.org).