Where Are These People?

If you think you know the answer or have a special memory related to the photo, respond in the "Leave a comment" box below this article. We'll run the answer next Monday, along with a new historical photo. The image has been provided by the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society. For more information on the museum's collection and programs, visit www.noahwebsterhouse.org.

Last week's question was "Who Is This Man?" and there were several very good guesses. Both Pat Newton and Rick Liftig thought it was Richard Patrissi. Kelly Hartzog thought it was Frank Robinson Sr., former Hall High School football coach. Michelle Fitzpatrick guessed Bob Steele.

Frederick Brown had the correct answer – Roger Sperry – and provided these extensive details in his comment: "I believe the picture is of Roger Sperry, Hall H. S. graduate, neurobiologist, and winner of the 1981 Nobel prize in medicine for his research in split brain research. Roger Sperry was a three-sport athlete at Hall. My interest in him was as a long-time biology teacher and a track coach at Hall. My memory is that Dr. Sperry was a javelin and discus thrower and was part of the Hall track team that won the very first Greater Hartford Track Meet in 1931. I believe the picture is of Roger Sperry, Hall H. S. graduate, neurobiologist, and winner of the 1981 Nobel prize in medicine for his research in split brain research. Roger Sperry was a three-sport athlete at Hall. My interest in him was as a long-time biology teacher and a track coach at Hall. My memory is that Dr. Sperry was a javelin and discus thrower and was part of the Hall track team that won the very first Greater Hartford Track Meet in 1931."

The official answer from the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society is: "The man in this 1931 Hall High School yearbook picture is Roger Wolcott Sperry (1913-1994). An Elmwood native, Sperry won a Nobel Prize in medicine for his pioneering brain research, illustrated in this diagram. His work continues to have important implications not only for medicine but for education."