Religion was identified as Presbyterian in the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1963-64, 1967-68, and 1969-70. It was identified as Lutheran in the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1971-72.
He grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota.
"From 1976 to 1996, he was chief lobbyist for Blue Cross. In 1987, he opposed expanding a 2 percent tax that the state levied on for-profit insurance companies to include nonprofit organizations such as Blue Cross and HMOs. . . . In 1996, he became executive director of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation. Anderson retired in December 1999." (Star Tribune obituary, April 6, 2000)
"In the Legislature, Anderson was a 'battler for the little guy,' particularly on retail trade issues such as fraud and unfair interest rates, said former Gov. Elmer L. Andersen." (Pioneer Press obituary, April 6, 2000)
"He was a progressive Republican in an era when his party favored government activism." (Salisbury, Bill. "John Tracy Anderson, 71, Was St. Paul Legislator." St. Paul Pioneer Press, April 6, 2000)
He died of heart disease at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was buried in Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Mahtomedi, Minnesota.
He was a member of St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church.