Billionaire with 10 kids dead at 80
Fred Smith, the billionaire founder of revolutionary delivery firm FedEx, has died at the age of 80.
FedEx started up in 1973 delivering small parcels and documents more quickly than the postal service.
Smith oversaw its growth to a behemoth of the industry, relied upon by other companies all over the world.
The business now delivers a staggering 17 million parcels every day.
His cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
After Smith graduated Yale University, he used a business theory he developed in college to create a delivery system.
His approach became known as a 'hub and spokes' system, and was based on co-ordinated air cargo flights centred around a main hub.
At the start, FedEx had 14 small aircraft operating out of the Memphis International Airport flying packages to 25 American cities.
Smith, worth $5.3 billion ($A8.3 billion) at his death according to Forbes, was also known for his philanthropy.
He stepped down as FedEx's CEO in 2022, but remained at the helm as executive chairman.
Memphis's former mayor Jim Strickland hailed him as 'the most significant Memphian in history'.
Strickland said: 'He benefited our city in every way possible and allowed generations of Memphians to achieve the American dream.
'God bless Fred Smith. My condolences to the Smith family.'
He donated millions of dollars to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation - after serving for four years in the Marine Corps himself.
In an 2023 interview, he said that all the experience he used to run FedEx came from his experience in the Marines, not what he learned at Yale.
Politicians and commercial figures have paid tribute to the legendary businessman.
Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn said:
'I am deeply saddened by the passing of Fred Smith.
'As the founder of FedEx, his leadership and innovation transformed global commerce, and he will be remembered for his relentless drive, patriotism, and commitment to service.
'His legacy will endure not only through the company he built but through the countless lives he touched.
'Praying for his wife, children, and family.'
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Fred Smith, FedEx's innovative founder, dies aged 80
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx who helped create the overnight delivery industry, changing the way businesses and consumers get the goods they purchased, has died. He was 80 years old. His death was confirmed by the US company. "Fred was more than just the pioneer of an industry and the founder of our great company," Raj Subramaniam, FedEx's CEO, said in a statement . FedEx founder dies aged 80. (CNN) "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." Smith came up with the idea for FedEx while a student at Yale University, writing a term paper proposing a revolutionary way to deliver time-sensitive shipments. He famously received only an average grade on the paper. He founded the company as Federal Express in 1971 in Little Rock, Arkansas, and it began operations in Memphis two years later, with 389 employees using 14 aircraft to deliver 186 packages to 25 US cities. The company grew steadily over the next 50 years, buying its first seven Boeing 727s freighters after two years of lobbying led to Congress deregulating air cargo. It also bought a series of other companies to help it grow, both internationally and with ground services in the US, creating both a FedEx Ground unit that moved most of its goods by truck and delivery vans and FedEx Freight, which handled pallet-sized shipments of freight by truck. And it also bought Kinko's copier centers and rebranded them as FedEx Office locations. "We were a small startup and had our share of sceptics. But that first night of operations set into motion what would become a global connector of people and possibilities that would change our world for the better," Smith said in a letter to FedEx employees announcing his retirement as CEO in 2022. After stepping down as CEO, Smith continued to serve as FedEx's executive chairman. Born in 1944 in Marks, Mississippi, Smith served for four years in the US Marines. After two tours of duty in Vietnam, Smith returned to start his company, which grew to a nearly $US90 billion ($139 billion) global shipping empire across 220 countries and territories. Former President George W. Bush called Smith "one of the finest Americans of our generation" in a statement on Sunday. "He built an innovative company that helped supercharge our economy. FedEx changed the way we live and do business," Bush said in the statement. "My Yale fraternity brother loved America. He was a citizen, not a spectator. "He served as a Marine in Vietnam and was rightly proud of his association with our military. "I twice asked him to serve as Secretary of Defence, and he declined twice only because of his devotion to his family. "Laura and I send our condolences to Fred's beloved children and grandchildren and his wife, Diane." World USA celebrity Economics CONTACT US
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Billionaire with 10 kids dead at 80
Fred Smith, the billionaire founder of revolutionary delivery firm FedEx, has died at the age of 80. FedEx started up in 1973 delivering small parcels and documents more quickly than the postal service. Smith oversaw its growth to a behemoth of the industry, relied upon by other companies all over the world. The business now delivers a staggering 17 million parcels every day. His cause of death is yet to be confirmed. After Smith graduated Yale University, he used a business theory he developed in college to create a delivery system. His approach became known as a 'hub and spokes' system, and was based on co-ordinated air cargo flights centred around a main hub. At the start, FedEx had 14 small aircraft operating out of the Memphis International Airport flying packages to 25 American cities. Smith, worth $5.3 billion ($A8.3 billion) at his death according to Forbes, was also known for his philanthropy. He stepped down as FedEx's CEO in 2022, but remained at the helm as executive chairman. Memphis's former mayor Jim Strickland hailed him as 'the most significant Memphian in history'. Strickland said: 'He benefited our city in every way possible and allowed generations of Memphians to achieve the American dream. 'God bless Fred Smith. My condolences to the Smith family.' He donated millions of dollars to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation - after serving for four years in the Marine Corps himself. In an 2023 interview, he said that all the experience he used to run FedEx came from his experience in the Marines, not what he learned at Yale. Politicians and commercial figures have paid tribute to the legendary businessman. Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn said: 'I am deeply saddened by the passing of Fred Smith. 'As the founder of FedEx, his leadership and innovation transformed global commerce, and he will be remembered for his relentless drive, patriotism, and commitment to service. 'His legacy will endure not only through the company he built but through the countless lives he touched. 'Praying for his wife, children, and family.'
