Career
During his final 18 years in the Senate, Gast chaired the appropriations committee. Gast"s first elected office was as treasurer of Lincoln Township, an office he held for 18 years. He then became township supervisor for eight years before running for the Michigan House of Representatives.
He also served as a member and president of the Evans School board.
A portion of M-63 in Berrien County was named the "Harry Gast Parkway" in 2008, and the Senate Appropriations Committee room in the Michigan State Capitol was named in his honor in 2015. Gast died on July 30, 2015, aged 94.