He received a
B.A. in 1966 in biology from the
California State University, Northridge. He received an
M.S. in 1968 in biology from California State University, Northridge. He received a Ph.D. in 1972 in zoology from the
University of Wisconsin-Madison From 1974 to 1995 Tracy was a member of the faculty at
Colorado State University. He has taught at the University of Wisconsin, the
University of Washington, the
University of Puerto Rico, and
Pepperdine University. Tracy has also taught at the biological stations administered by the
University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Colorado State University, and the
University of Michigan. He has served as major professor for 45 graduate students and 13 postdocs. Twenty-four of his Ph.D. students and postdocs have become professors at colleges and universities all over the world, and seven are scientists in the U.S. Geological Service. He maintains a diverse research program including pure and applied projects in physiology, ecology, and conservation biology that has resulted in more than 170 publications. Several projects incorporate principles, data, and analyses into strategies for preserving sensitive biological resources and for conservation planning. The lizard species
Liolaemus dicktracyi is named after him. ==Honors==