Frederick Wallace Smith, the founder of FedEx and a trailblazer in the global freight industry, died on June 21. He was 80.
Smith, who launched FedEx in 1971 with a business plan first conceived as a college paper at Yale, changed the way goods move across the world by introducing guaranteed overnight delivery — a then-radical concept that promised next-morning arrival for packages picked up just a day prior. That idea would grow into a multibillion-dollar enterprise, handling millions of shipments daily and employing hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
The road from classroom concept to corporate behemoth was anything but easy. Smith faced major financial and regulatory hurdles as he sought to build a network capable of meeting urgent delivery needs, particularly for businesses shipping time-sensitive industrial and electronic components. Before FedEx, expedited air freight relied heavily on existing commercial flight schedules, often resulting in delays and unpredictability.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that Smith’s vision fully took off. As FedEx expanded, so did his influence in Washington. Over the years, he cultivated close relationships with political leaders, including Presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, as well as Senator John McCain and numerous members of Congress.
“Fred was much more than a pioneer in the industry and the founder of our company,” said FedEx President and CEO Raj Subramaniam in a message to employees. “He was the heart and soul of FedEx — he embodied its culture, values, integrity, and PSP spirit. He was a mentor to many and an inspiration to all. He was also a proud father, grandfather, husband, and friend.”
Smith remained a central figure at FedEx long after stepping down from the CEO role in 2022.
