Frederick W. Smith was born in 1944 in Marks, Mississippi. This future founder of Federal Express was forced to grow up at an early age. His father passed away when he was just four years old, leaving Smith with few male role models in his life.
Smith attended high school at Memphis University School, where he excelled both academically and as an athlete. Smith proved to be an excellent football player and soon developed strong relationships with his coaches, to whom he attributes much of his success.
Of one coach in particular, Smith says, “He absolutely proved to me that persistence was a very big part of making it in life. I never forgot that lesson.”
Smith founded Federal Express in 1971 and the company began operations in 1973. Smith is responsible for providing strategic direction for all FedEx Corporation operating companies, including FedEx Services, FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight and FedEx Kinko’s.
FedEx serves more than 220 countries and territories with operations that include 672 aircraft and over 75,000 vehicles. More than 290,000 employees and independent contractors worldwide handle more than 7.5 million shipments each business day.
FedEx has leveraged qualities like speed, teamwork and precision in building the largest express transportation company in the world. Those same qualities are prominent in their championship caliber sports sponsorships.
FedEx Forum is the largest public building construction project in Memphis history. The Forum is home to both the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and the University of Memphis Tigers basketball. FedEx Field is the home of the Washington Redskins. The FedEx Cup Competition offered fans of the PGA Tour a whole new competitive element while giving the game its first true season in 2007. The Southern Heritage Classic presented by FedEx Express has grown to be a premier entertainment event in Memphis as Jackson State University takes on Tennessee State University in football. The FedEx Orange Bowl takes place in January each year. FedEx is the official sponsor of the European Rugby Cup. And FedEx racing is the sponsor of the Joe Gibbs Racing #11 Chevrolet driven by 2006 Rookie of the Year Denny Hamlin.