SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): January 7, 2004


                                  ASHLAND INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    Kentucky
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

              1-2918                                          61-0122250
      (Commission File Number)                               (I.R.S. Employer
                                                           Identification No.)


   50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky           41012-0391
      (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)


   P.O. Box 391, Covington, Kentucky                          41012-0391
           (Mailing Address)                                  (Zip Code)


        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (859) 815-3333







Item 5.  Other Events
- ------   ------------

     On January 7, 2004, Ashland Inc.  ("Ashland")  announced that Garry M.
Higdem,  P.E., formerly with Granite  Construction  (Watsonville,  CA), has
been named to succeed David J. D'Antoni as President of Ashland  Paving And
Construction,  Inc., the parent corporation of the APAC group of companies,
and a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of Ashland.  Higdem will report to James J.
O'Brien,  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ashland. Higdem will hold
the titles of Senior Vice  President  of Ashland,  and  President,  Ashland
Paving And Construction,  Inc. The appointment is effective Monday, January
12, 2004.

     The APAC group of  companies  operates in 14 Southern  and  Midwestern
states.  APAC's  assets  consist  of 96  aggregate  production  facilities,
including 35 permanent  operating quarry locations;  65 ready-mix  concrete
plants;  239 hot-mix asphalt plants;  and more than 15,000 pieces of mobile
equipment.

                                 SIGNATURES
                                 ----------

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                  ASHLAND INC.
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                                  (Registrant)



Date:  January 7, 2004                    /s/ J. Marvin Quin
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                   Name:     J. Marvin Quin
                                   Title:    Senior Vice President and
                                             Chief Financial Officer



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