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Fred Smith, FedEx founder and American business magnate, dies at 80
Fred Smith, FedEx founder and American business magnate, dies at 80
From staff reports The Commercial Appeal
Updated June 21, 2025, 10:50 p.m., CT
Key Points
• Frederick W. Smith, founder of FedEx, has died at age 80.
• Smith's innovative express shipping company revolutionized air cargo, establishing the overnight delivery standard.
• He overcame early financial and regulatory hurdles to build FedEx into a global logistics giant
FedEx founder Frederick Wallace Smith, whose express shipping company revolutionized air cargo transportation and set the standard for absolutely, positively overnight delivery, died on June 21, FedEx has confirmed. He was 80.
Smith, who led FedEx as its chairman and CEO for the vast majority of his tenure, took the rough idea detailed in his rushed college term paper and molded it into a global shipping juggernaut now worth tens of billions of dollars, handling millions of packages every day and employing hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
"Fred was more than just the pioneer of an industry and the founder of our great company. He was the heart and soul of FedEx – its PSP culture, values, integrity, and spirit," FedEx CEO and President Raj Subramaniam said in a message sent to FedEx team members. "He was a mentor to many and a source of inspiration to all. He was also a proud father, grandfather, husband, Marine, and friend; please keep the entire Smith family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."
Fred Smith FedEx CEO, participates in roundtable discussion with Vice President Mike Pence about Operation Warp Speed at the Air National Guard 164th Airlift Wing on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, in Memphis, Tenn.
It took years for Smith’s vision to get off the ground. Financing hurdles and regulatory restraints extended the time it took to prove the immense value of an express shipping network for businesses who needed vital goods like machine parts and electronics delivered fast. Before FedEx, urgent air cargo was at the whim of passenger planes.
{snip}
From staff reports The Commercial Appeal
Updated June 21, 2025, 10:50 p.m., CT
Key Points
• Frederick W. Smith, founder of FedEx, has died at age 80.
• Smith's innovative express shipping company revolutionized air cargo, establishing the overnight delivery standard.
• He overcame early financial and regulatory hurdles to build FedEx into a global logistics giant
FedEx founder Frederick Wallace Smith, whose express shipping company revolutionized air cargo transportation and set the standard for absolutely, positively overnight delivery, died on June 21, FedEx has confirmed. He was 80.
Smith, who led FedEx as its chairman and CEO for the vast majority of his tenure, took the rough idea detailed in his rushed college term paper and molded it into a global shipping juggernaut now worth tens of billions of dollars, handling millions of packages every day and employing hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
"Fred was more than just the pioneer of an industry and the founder of our great company. He was the heart and soul of FedEx – its PSP culture, values, integrity, and spirit," FedEx CEO and President Raj Subramaniam said in a message sent to FedEx team members. "He was a mentor to many and a source of inspiration to all. He was also a proud father, grandfather, husband, Marine, and friend; please keep the entire Smith family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."
Fred Smith FedEx CEO, participates in roundtable discussion with Vice President Mike Pence about Operation Warp Speed at the Air National Guard 164th Airlift Wing on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, in Memphis, Tenn.
It took years for Smith’s vision to get off the ground. Financing hurdles and regulatory restraints extended the time it took to prove the immense value of an express shipping network for businesses who needed vital goods like machine parts and electronics delivered fast. Before FedEx, urgent air cargo was at the whim of passenger planes.
{snip}