Purificación Zelaya (1866–1940) was a Honduran military officer, landlord and politician, hailing from Olanchito.
[1] During his youth years, Zelaya studied at the Military School of Tegucigalpa.
A powerful man in Olanchito and the Yoro Department, Zelaya also served governor and Member of Parliament.
[2] During his tenure as mayor of Olanchito (1902), Zelaya sought to establish educational institutions in his hometown.
He also supported the effort to set up a secondary school in the town, named Estrella del Norte.