Gary Lee Capps

Longtime Bend resident Gary Lee Capps died February 14, 2025 (the same day his mother passed in 1958) of complications from the flu. He was 89 years old.
Gary was born on December 13th, 1935 in Wenatchee, Washington to Gordon and Elaine Capps. Shortly thereafter he moved with his parents to LaGrande and later Ontario, Oregon where he graduated from high school in 1954. Gary was a stellar athlete lettering in both football and baseball. Gary attended Whitworth College in Spokane where he quickly came to the conclusion a more religious life was expected of him. Apparently, he was told to finish the semester and not to come back, which he was immensely pleased to accommodate. He transferred to the University of Oregon where he graduated with a degree in Journalism in 1958. His career in media sales was spurred by his position as Business Manager of the Oregon Daily Emerald.
Upon graduation, he took his first job in radio broadcasting at KUGN in Eugene. In 1960 he was hired by KPOJ in Portland. One of his crowning achievements at KPOJ was creating a contest in 1962 to name Packy, the first elephant born in captivity in 44 years, at the Oregon Zoo. Fortunately for Gary, he outlived Packy by some 35 years. In 1963, Gary was hired as the manager of KGRL 940 radio, moving to Bend with his then wife Shari and children. Gary later purchased the station and began his quest to acquire as many stations in podunk towns as possible. When his younger brother Dave joined this pursuit, the group of small-market radio stations became Capps Broadcasting, with nine radio stations throughout Oregon and Idaho. He was president of the Oregon Association of Broadcasters and named Broadcaster of the year in 1986. In 1987, Gary sold his portion of the stations and left broadcasting behind. He was later the Executive Director of the Bend Chamber of Commerce and owner/broker of Century 21 Real Estate in Bend. Gary retired in 2005.
Gary was an active community member, with involvement in the City of Bend Planning Commission, working to pass Bend school levies and the Tower Theater Foundation, among others. He was a long time board director of the Bank of the Cascades, serving as Board Chair for 25 years. He loved bird hunting, music, skiing, and golfing. He was an avid fan of the Oregon Ducks and never once gave up on the dream of winning a national championship in something other than track.
Gary is survived by his brother David Capps, his three children, Mark Capps, Diane Brown and Sarah Rivers as well as his six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, April 12th at 1 p.m. at The Haven, 1001 SW Disk Drive in Bend.