Fred Smith, FedEx Founder, Dies at 80 | A Legacy That Transformed Global Shipping | NEWSDRFT

Fred Smith, the legendary founder of FedEx, has passed away at the age of 80. In this video, we reflect on the incredible journey of the man who revolutionized the logistics industry. From a college paper idea to a global delivery empire, Smith's legacy reshaped how the world does business. Learn how his vision, military background, and groundbreaking strategies built FedEx into a logistics giant handling millions of packages daily.

Stay tuned to discover the fascinating story behind one of America's most influential entrepreneurs.

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Fred Smith, the visionary founder of FedEx, has passed away at the age of 80. His death marks the end of an era for one of the most transformative figures in modern business and logistics. Smith didn’t just create a shipping company—he pioneered an entire industry and redefined how the world moves goods.

Born in 1944, Frederick Wallace Smith was no ordinary entrepreneur. A Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, he carried the discipline, grit, and leadership skills from the battlefield into the boardroom. But his defining legacy began with a bold idea that took shape during his college years at Yale University. In an economics class, he proposed a business model for an overnight delivery service that would operate independently of the existing postal system. That paper earned him a mediocre grade—yet the concept would later become the foundation for FedEx.

Smith officially launched Federal Express in 1973. The company started modestly, with just 14 small jets and 389 team members. On its first night of operations, FedEx moved only 186 packages between a few cities in the United States. It was a humble beginning, but Smith had a vision far greater than the scale of those first deliveries. He introduced a revolutionary hub-and-spoke distribution model, centralizing operations to increase efficiency. It was a gamble in an industry where few thought such speed or scale was possible.

Over the next few decades, under Smith’s relentless leadership, FedEx grew into a global powerhouse. His insistence on technological innovation led to some of the earliest package tracking systems, forever changing customer expectations. He believed that people should always know where their packages were and when they’d arrive—a standard now taken for granted.

Today, FedEx operates over 705 aircraft and 200,000 ground vehicles, employing around half a million people worldwide. The company handles approximately 17 million packages every single day. These staggering numbers are a testament to Smith’s strategic genius, as well as his belief in operational excellence.

Smith stepped down as CEO in 2022, turning over the reins to Raj Subramaniam. Even after leaving the top executive post, he remained deeply involved with FedEx as executive chairman, focusing on governance, innovation, and public policy. His leadership style combined old-school discipline with forward-thinking strategies, always focused on long-term growth rather than short-term gains.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Smith was also a notable figure in American public life. He advocated for free trade and economic competitiveness and was known for supporting various philanthropic causes. At one point, he even held a minority stake in the NFL’s Washington team. And in pop culture, his impact was immortalized with a cameo in the Tom Hanks film "Cast Away," which centered around a FedEx employee stranded after a plane crash.

Fred Smith’s passing leaves behind not just a corporate legacy, but a cultural and economic one. He turned an idea—once dismissed by a college professor—into a business that literally keeps the world moving. His story is one of vision, determination, and transformation.

As tributes pour in from around the world, one thing is clear: Fred Smith didn’t just deliver packages. He delivered a new way of thinking about global commerce, logistics, and leadership.

Rest in peace, Fred Smith. Your legacy flies on