Purpur retired in 1947 and coached the University of North Dakota team in 1949-50. He holds the distinction of being the first person born in North Dakota to play in the National Hockey League. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974. He also received the State's highest honor, the Roughrider Award in 1981. In 1988, he received the Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey Award.