Philip Reid Tracy Jr.

Phil was born on February 13, 1942 to Phil and Myrtle Tracy of Lincoln, NE. Phil graduated from the first graduating senior class of Columbus High School in 1959. While in high school, he was the editor of the yearbook and played the snare drum in the band. His high school band participated in the Rose Bowl Parade his senior year. After high school, he majored in Political Science with minors in History and Economics at the University of Nebraska. It was during his junior year that he met his future wife, Travis Baird, on a blind date in which they went roller skating. After graduating, he attended George Washington University Law School and graduated in 1966. He and Travis married in 1965.

After law school, Phil served in the FBI in Richmond, Virginia and Chicago, Illinois from 1966-1969. He spent the next five years working at two different law firms in Washington, D.C, and subsequently accepted a position as Assistant General Counsel for Burroughs Wellcome Co in Raleigh, NC. During his 21-year tenure at BW, he served as General Counsel and ultimately, CEO. Phil finished his career at Intersouth Partners and was actively involved in start-up life science companies, was Of Counsel at Smith Anderson law firm in Raleigh. He retired in 2018.

Philanthropy was always important to Phil. He participated in a number of community boards over the years including Peace College, Duke Medical School Board of Visitors, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and White Memorial finance committees.

Phil and Travis travelled extensively together both alone and with friends and family. Whether for golf, through Tauck, or with small groups of close friends, they were able to visit many places including England, Ireland, Scotland, Portugal, China, South America, Africa, the Greek Isles, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Eastern Europe, Israel, Jordan, and Southern France.

Phil was known for his love of family and friends, golf, travel, Duke basketball first and Carolina basketball as a close second (much to the dismay of his children), maps, dancing and music, Nebraska football, his new car, a good martini and a good laugh.

Phil and Travis were married for almost 57 years. They have a daughter, Karin, who married Christopher Sasser and gave them 2 grandchildren, CJ and Kylie; and a son Reid, who married Jenna Price and gave them 3 grandchildren, Reid, Dixon, and Sadler.

The family wishes to extend heartfelt appreciation to the nursing staffs of the cancer floor at Duke Raleigh Hospital and at Rosewood Health Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Food Bank of NC, the Prostate Cancer Research Institute or the Phil and Travis Tracy Arts and Sciences Excellence Fund online at nufoundation.org.

A visitation for Philip will be held Sunday, May 15, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 East Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC 27609. A memorial service will occur Monday, May 16, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at White Memorial Presbyterian, 1704 Oberlin Rd, Raleigh, NC 27608.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brownwynneeastmillbrook.com for the Tracy family.