Frederick W. Smith, a prominent businessman and founder of the multinational delivery services company FedEx, passed away on June 21st, 2025 at the age of 80. Born on August 11th, 1944 in Marks, Mississippi, Smith had a strong entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. After graduating from Yale University in 1966 with a degree in economics, Smith served in the United States Marine Corps until 1970. It was during his time in the military that he developed the idea for a centralized air freight system, which would ultimately become the basis for FedEx. In 1971, Smith founded Federal Express Corporation, initially using just 14 small planes to transport packages overnight. Over the years, the company grew exponentially and revolutionized the shipping industry with its fast and reliable services. Today, FedEx has a presence in over 220 countries and territories, employs hundreds of thousands of people, and generates billions of dollars in revenue each year. Despite being best known for his role as the CEO and Chairman of FedEx, Smith also had a strong philanthropic side. He donated millions of dollars to various charities and organizations, particularly those supporting education and economic development. Throughout his lifetime, Smith received numerous accolades for his entrepreneurship and leadership, including being inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame and being named one of Time Magazine's Most Influential People in the World. He will be remembered as a visionary businessman, a generous philanthropist, and a respected leader in the corporate world. Smith's legacy will continue to live on through the success and impact of FedEx, as well as his contributions to society. He is survived by his wife, four children, and several grandchildren.