**Frederick Smith, FedEx Founder, Passes Away at 80**
Frederick Smith, the visionary founder of FedEx Corp., has passed away at the age of 80 on June 21. The company announced his death, expressing deep sorrow in a statement from CEO Raj Subramaniam, who said, “It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I share that Frederick W. Smith, our founder and executive chairman, died earlier today.”
Smith, a Vietnam War veteran, established FedEx at the young age of 26 and transformed it into a global logistics powerhouse with annual revenues exceeding $90 billion. Reflecting on his legacy, Smith once stated, “I just enjoy what I’m doing. I’m very focused on the here and now. The legacy will be the success of the company and, I hope, the success of my children.” His son, Richard Smith, currently serves as CEO of FedEx’s airline division.
Born Frederick Wallace Smith on August 11, 1944, in Marks, Mississippi, he was the son of James and Sally Smith. His father founded what would become the Greyhound Lines bus system and a successful restaurant chain, leaving behind a significant fortune when he passed away when Smith was just four years old. Smith developed a passion for flying at an early age, learning to fly at 15. After graduating from Yale University, he served two tours in Vietnam, earning a Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts for his bravery.
Interestingly, while at Yale in 1965, Smith proposed a national overnight delivery system in an economics paper, which received a C grade. This concept eventually evolved into FedEx. Starting with a small fleet of planes in Memphis, Tennessee, Smith’s idea was simple: people would pay for the urgency of delivery.
Under his leadership, FedEx grew to employ over 500,000 individuals and operate hundreds of aircraft, solidifying its position as one of the largest logistics companies in the world. Smith stepped down as CEO in 2022 but remained as Executive Chairman and was the largest shareholder with an 8% stake in the company.
Smith is survived by his two children from his first marriage to Linda Black Grisham and eight children from his second marriage to Diane. His daughter, Windland Smith Rice, known as Wendy, tragically passed away in 2005.
As the logistics industry mourns the loss of a pioneer, Smith’s contributions to parcel delivery and global logistics will be remembered for generations to come.
**FAQ**
**What was Frederick Smith’s contribution to logistics?**
Frederick Smith founded FedEx and revolutionized the logistics industry by introducing a national overnight delivery system, which has become a standard in the sector.
