Frederick Smith cause of death: Here's all on FedEx founder's health issues

Frederick W Smith, the founder of FedEx Corporation, died on Saturday. He was 80 years old.

Published on: Jun 22, 2025, 08:42:33 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Frederick W Smith, the founder of FedEx Corporation, died on Saturday, WREG reported, citing sources. He was 80 years old. Several politicians and close friends of Smith posted tributes on social media, recalling the billionaire as an ‘innovator and leader’.

Frederick W Smith, founder of FedEx, died on Saturday (X)

Smith was born in Marks, Mississippi, in 1944. He earned his degree from Yale before joining the United States Marine Corps. The 80-year-old started FedEx operations in 1973. Fred Smith served as the CEO of the company until 2022. He stepped down and became executive chairman.

As chairman, he led ‘board governance, as well as issues of global importance, including sustainability, innovation, and public policy', according to FedEx.

Senator Brent Taylor called Smith a ‘visionary leader and cherished member of our community’.

“I’m deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Fred Smith, a visionary leader and cherished member of our community.As the founder of FedEx, Fred revolutionized global logistics, creating countless jobs and opportunities right here in Memphis. His entrepreneurial spirit, dedication to innovation, and commitment to Memphis will leave a lasting legacy. He truly did Make Memphis Matter to the world.”

Senator Marsha Blackburn said: “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,” Blackburn posted on X. “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.”

What is Fred Smith's cause of death and known health issues?

While an official cause of death has not been released yet, it has been revealed that Smith suffered from Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome as a child. The bone disease that temporarily crippled him but from which he recovered by age 10, according to Britannica.com.

In 2008, during George W. Bush’s administration, Smith declined an offer to serve as Defense Secretary due to unspecified health concerns.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.