Gary Purpura runs the Eastern Oregon Half-Marathon for 46th time

Gary Purpura first came to Spray when he was 19 years old in the early 1970s. "In the summers I would take a drive and look for work," says Mr. Purpura who now owns the brokerage firm Liberty Capital in Portland.

On one drive, Gary saw a "help wanted" sign for farm workers. It paid $20 a day with room and board. Gary went to work for Bud and Cecilia Reed, bucking bales outside of Spray. That year,...