Frederick W. Smith, the founder of FedEx Corporation, passed away at the age of 80 on Saturday. His death led many people around the world to share their thoughts and feelings about his important influence on business, charity, and the city of Memphis.
Smith started Federal Express in 1971. He changed the delivery service forever by creating a new way of organising shipments that allowed packages to be delivered overnight. This idea came from a paper he wrote while he was a student at Yale University in 1965, for which he received a C grade.
Today, FedEx has around 400,000 workers, operates in 220 countries, and earns about $87.7 billion each year, according to Forbes. Smith’s experiences in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, where he received several awards for bravery, helped shape the strong work culture at FedEx.
People in Memphis regard Smith as an important figure who helped make their city a major centre for shipping and logistics. He also dedicated a lot of time and money to help others, including a $65 million donation to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to support the education of children of Marines.
He contributed to the University of Memphis and local arts, earning praise from the city’s mayor, Paul Young, who called him “Memphis’s greatest citizen”.
Smith’s son, Arthur Smith, who is the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, talked about how his father taught him to be competitive and hard-working in a recent ESPN interview.
In addition to his business achievements, Smith was part of the ownership group for the Washington Redskins and sold his share in 2020 as the team changed its name to the Commanders.
Many people shared their condolences after his passing. FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam called him “a giant who connected the world.” Former President George W. Bush praised his creative spirit.
Elon Musk credited Smith’s ideas for helping shape Tesla’s supply chain. In Memphis, where FedEx employs around 30,000 people, many residents expressed their sadness at gatherings near the company’s office.
Smith’s death comes at a time when FedEx is also changing. The company is working on plans to save $4 billion each year, and its stock has risen by 12% in 2025.
Smith’s forward-thinking ideas, like using AI to sort packages, have helped FedEx compete with other big companies like Amazon and UPS, although there have been challenges, such as a recent disagreement with pilots.
Born in Memphis in 1944, Smith faced difficulties growing up, including having polio and losing his father at a young age. His memoir, “Overnight Success”, tells the story of how FedEx nearly failed in 1973, but he managed to save it with a win of $5,000 at a casino in Las Vegas.
Smith leaves behind 10 children, including film producer Molly Smith, and his wife, Diane. His wealth is estimated at $6 billion, according to Bloomberg.
