Aaron W. Tracy was born on March 3, 1885 in Marriott, Utah. He was orphaned at a young age and lived with and worked for family and friends. Aaron attended Weber Academy from 1905-1907, and was student body president in 1906-1907. During his last year of school he lived with and worked for Principal David O. McKay to earn the money needed for school expenses. After graduating from Weber Stake Academy in 1907, Tracy served as principal of Weber County public schools from 1907-1911 and 1914-1917, and as principal of Box Elder school district from 1912-1913. He married Ethel Marriot in 1912, and had seven children. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelors degree in English in 1919. In 1918-1919 he was the student body president. From 1919-1922, Tracy was head of the English Department at Weber Normal College. He became president of Weber Normal College in 1922. During his tenure the school transitioned from a high school and junior college to a junior college, and from a church school to a state college. He stepped down in 1935. From 1937-1941 Tracy was a member of the English faculty at Brigham Young University. He served as historian for the Ogden Defense Depot from 1941-1945, the chairman of the Utah Department of Publicity and Industrial Development from 1945-1949, and as a training officer at the Ogden Defense Depot from 1950-1951. Tracy served three terms in the Utah State Legislature from 1959-1963. He was the recipient of an honorary degree from Weber State College in June 1966. He died in Ogden on August 6, 1966.