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FedEx founder, executive chairman, and CEO Frederick Wallace Smith passed away from natural causes on June 21, 2025
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The long-time chairman of the global transportation and logistics industry giant died in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 80
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It was at Yale where he conceived the idea for an integrated air-to-ground system that would ensure overnight delivery
FedEx Corp founder, executive chairman, and long-time chairman and CEO Frederick Wallace Smith passed away from natural causes on June 21, 2025, the company said in a statement.
Smith died in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 80.
“Fred was more than just the pioneer of an industry and the founder of our great company. He was the heart and soul of FedEx – its PSP culture, values, integrity, and spirit. He was a mentor to many and a source of inspiration to all. He was also a proud father, grandfather, husband, Marine, and friend; please keep the entire Smith family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” Raj Subramaniam, FedEx president and CEO, said in a statement sent to FedEx team members.
Smith was one of a few men who can claim to have founded an entire industry, one which revolutionized the business world.
Born on August 11, 1944, in Marks, Mississippi and raised in Memphis, Smith entered Yale College in 1962 to pursue a degree in economics.
While at Yale, Smith worked as a charter pilot. It was there where he conceived the idea for an integrated air-to-ground system that would ensure overnight delivery, a concept that would eventually become Federal Express, known worldwide as FedEx.
After graduating from Yale in 1966, he served four years in the United States Marine Corps (USMC), which included two tours of duty in Vietnam where he served as a rifle platoon leader, a company commander, and aerial observer/tactical air controller.
He was decorated with the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts for his service. He left the Marine Corps in 1970 as a captain, and would often joke that he received his “business degree’ from the USMC.
Smith launched Federal Express in 1973 with a fleet of 14 Dassault Falcon jets and a vision to transform the shipping industry.
Under his leadership as its president and CEO, FedEx grew from a small startup into a multinational corporation that redefined global commerce.
FedEx is now the world’s largest express transportation company, employing more than 500,000 team members globally, connecting more than 220 countries and territories, and moving nearly $2 trillion in goods annually and more than 17 million shipments daily.
Smith’s pioneering approach not only created an industry leader but also set new standards for customer focus with the renowned Purple Promise, a globally consistent People-Service-Profit culture, and a brand trusted by shippers and recipients worldwide.
In 2022, after serving as one of the longest-tenured presidents and CEOs of a Fortune 100 company, Smith stepped aside to become founder and executive chairman of FedEx Corporation. Here he focused on issues of global importance, including sustainability, innovation, and public policy. Until his passing, Smith continued to help shape the vision and the strategy of the company he founded.
Current FedEx president & CEO Raj Subramaniam said: “Frederick W. Smith pioneered express delivery and connected the world, shaping global commerce as we know it. His legacy of innovation, leadership, and philanthropy will continue to inspire future generations. I will miss not only his visionary leadership, but his trusted friendship and counsel.”
Smith was a trustee for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a director of the American Battle Monuments Foundation, and a member of the Business Council.
He served on the Business Roundtable for more than three decades. He also served as chairman of the US-China Business Council and co-chair of the French American Business Council. Smith served on the boards of several large public companies such as Malone and Hyde (AutoZone), First Tennessee, Holiday Inn, EW Scripps, and General Mills, as well as charitable organizations including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Mayo Foundation. He was chairman of the Board of Governors for the International Air Transport Association and chaired the executive committee of the US Air Transport Association.
Smith was a philanthropist and supporter of numerous charitable causes. He served as co-chairman of both the US World War II Memorial project and the campaign for the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
His commitment to the city of Memphis was evident in his lifelong dedication to uplifting its people and future. Through philanthropic support of education, healthcare, sports, the arts, and community development, he helped shape Memphis for the better.
He was a devoted father and grandfather, known for his generosity, humility, and dedication to his family. He was preceded in death by his daughter Windland Smith Rice.
He is survived by his wife, Diane Smith, and children: Stacey Rokas, Laurie Hooper, Richard Smith, Kathleen Forbush, Molly Heussenstamm, Arthur Smith, Rachel O’Neal, Sam Atkinson, and Cannon Smith, as well as 31 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
