Richard Burleson Self

Richard Burleson Self, known to most as Dick, died on 10 May, 2026, at the age of 82 from complications due to Alzheimer’s. Dick was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on 8 October, 1943, the second of two children, to Dr. J. Teague and Mrs. Ida Self. Growing up in the university town of Norman, he was a lifelong Sooner fan. The son of a zoology professor and school librarian, Dick was surrounded by intellect, curiosity, and an eternal love of faith and family. He was blessed with an extended family of deep Texas roots which included many dear aunts, uncles and cousins. He and his beloved sister, Virginia, spent their happiest childhood summers at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station at Lake Texoma. Together, they nurtured many cherished pets, including the famed “Woofus.”

A true “Sooner born”, Dick graduated from OU in 1965 with a degree in history. Endlessly restless for travel and exploration, he headed to Washington, D.C. in 1967 to work for the presidential campaign hoping to find a career in public policy. Subsequently, he was appointed to a position at the Treasury Department. From 1970 to 1980, he was Director of the Office of Tariff Affairs in the Department of the Treasury, which then led to a position as a professional staff member of the Committee on Ways and Means in the House of Representatives. During the majority of his time in government, he was the Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Services. In this capacity, he served as the Chief U.S. Negotiator for Services during the Uruguay Round. He served in a similar capacity during the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

At the wedding of his oldest childhood friend, John Luttrel, he met and quickly fell in love with Tracy Ann Humason, a native of Hartsdale, New York. They were married in 1969, settled in Northern Virginia, and welcomed son Bradford in 1972. Daughters Courtney and Lauren soon followed, and Dick immediately delighted in his most prized roles - husband and father. He never tired of sharing his passions for ancient Bluegrass and the masters of opera or of endless trips to museums and battlefields. Singing in the church choir kept him close to his faith and adoration of music. His “labor of love” was meticulously planning family trips to the mountain west where hiking and wildlife provided a serenity away from the pressures of government work.

In 1995, Dick was honored to become the Attaché at the U.S. Permanent Mission to the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland. There, he was responsible for the management of several committees under WTO auspices, including the Services Council, which oversees the operation of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). In addition, he was the U.S. negotiator for the accession process of a number of countries seeking entry into the WTO. Dick's other responsibilities included the Geneva point for the services aspects of the economic commerce deliberations within the WTO. Tracy and Dick treasured their “empty nest” years exploring Europe.

Upon retirement from the government, Dick relished consultant work in the private sector, where he topped out his total countries visited at 57. It was at this time that he reconnected with the game of golf and delighted in the mission of maintaining a respectable handicap. He was also a devoted volunteer for the Northern Virginia Training Center as well as an usher at All Souls Episcopal in the District. He deeply admired and appreciated his son-in-laws, Mike McMahon and Neil Stone, and delighted in his final years being surrounded by the love of his five grandchildren. Dick is survived by his wife, Tracy; his children, Lauren (Neil) and Courtney (Mike); his grandchildren Hugh, Meghan, Lauren, Avery, and Madeleine; his sister,Virginia, and her children, Anne and Jim.

A funeral Mass will be held at All Souls Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. on June 22,2026, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dick’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.