Fred Smith, the visionary founder of FedEx and a pioneer in the modern express delivery industry, has passed away at the age of 80, the company announced.
Smith launched Federal Express in 1973, introducing a radical model for overnight package delivery based on a central air hub — an idea he first developed as a student at Yale. With 14 planes serving 25 U.S. cities, the Memphis-based startup redefined logistics and grew into a global powerhouse handling 17 million shipments per day.
A decorated Marine Corps veteran, Smith credited his military service, not his Ivy League education, for shaping his leadership at FedEx. After two combat tours in Vietnam, he returned home with a vision for a more efficient, time-sensitive shipping system that helped usher in just-in-time inventory practices across American industry.
Under his leadership, FedEx became not only a logistics giant but also a bellwether of the global economy. Smith stepped down as CEO in 2022 but remained as executive chairman.
Despite his influence, Smith shied away from the limelight. He made a rare cameo in the 2000 film Castaway and quietly supported civic causes in Memphis, from education to the city’s zoo. In 2023, he publicly supported a scholarship fund for children of Navy service members pursuing careers in STEM fields.
Fred Smith’s legacy endures in the daily movement of millions of packages — and in the model he pioneered, which continues to shape global commerce.
Source: ABC