Overview

• Fred Smith died on June 21 at age 80, with FedEx confirming that no cause of death has been released.
• Smith launched FedEx operations in 1973 based on a Yale economics paper and introduced the hub-and-spoke system enabling reliable overnight shipping.
• He served as FedEx CEO until 2022 and continued to influence corporate strategy as executive chairman.
• A decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Smith completed two tours in Vietnam and credited his military experience for shaping his leadership.
• Smith’s philanthropic efforts included funding scholarships for military families and children’s research and supporting community and sports initiatives in Memphis and beyond.