Ex-Washington NFL team part-owner Smith dies

Fred Smith, a erstwhile number proprietor of the Washington NFL franchise and the laminitis of FedEx Corp., a salient sponsor crossed the scenery of sports, has died. He was 80.

Smith, the begetter of erstwhile Atlanta Falcons manager and existent Pittsburgh Steelers violative coordinator Arthur Smith, owned a information of the Washington franchise from 2003 until 2021.

"The Washington Commanders mourn the passing of Frederick W. Smith, FedEx laminitis and enforcement chairman," the Commanders said successful a statement. "Mr. Smith was a highly respected philanthropist and innovative businessman whose investments erstwhile included a number involvement successful our team. He besides proudly served our state successful the US Marine Corps. We nonstop our sincere condolences to Mr. Smith's household and loved ones, arsenic good arsenic our friends crossed the FedEx organization."

In 2003, Smith purchased a number stock of Washington's ownership nether Dan Snyder. Smith, Robert Rothman and Dwight Schar owned 40% of the franchise earlier selling their shares successful 2021.

The 3 number owners had go disenchanted with Snyder and successful 2020 had hired a steadfast to question a purchaser for their stake. That came astatine a clip erstwhile Snyder was nether unit to alteration the team' archetypal name; Smith had been successful favour of a sanction change; FedEx, which had the stadium naming rights, issued a property merchandise astatine the clip saying it had informed the squad it wanted them to alteration the name.

In Nov. 2020 the 3 number owners sued Snyder successful national court, saying helium interfered with a pending merchantability of their shares to investors consenting to wage $900 cardinal for their shares. They said Snyder improperly utilized his close of archetypal refusal by offering to bargain the shares of Smith and Rothman, but not Schar. Snyder had accused Schar of starring an effort to extort him. The NFL aboriginal banned Schar from being portion of an ownership radical again.

The squad yet changed its sanction to the Washington Football Team successful 2020 earlier changing the sanction to Commanders successful 2022.

Before buying a involvement successful the Washington franchise, Smith was portion of an effort successful 1993 to onshore an NFL enlargement squad successful Memphis. Jacksonville and Carolina, however, were chosen by the NFL to articulation the league astatine that time.

In 1999, Memphis, Tennessee-based FedEx signed a 27-year woody worthy $205 cardinal for the naming rights to the Washington NFL franchise's stadium but severed the statement 2 years aboriginal successful 2024 aft Snyder sold the squad to a radical led by existent proprietor Josh Harris. FedEx has a abstracted concern with the squad that remains successful place.

FedEx besides has the naming rights for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies' arena, the FedEx Forum, signing a woody successful 2002. The arena is besides location for the Memphis Tigers hoops team.

In 2023, Smith's household donated $50 cardinal for renovations to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, the location of the Memphis Tigers shot team. Last year, FedEx pledged $25 cardinal implicit the 5 years to beryllium utilized successful name, representation and likeness sponsorship deals with the school's athletes.

FedEx besides has been the sponsor the PGA Tour's Memphis-area play tournament, the FedEx St. Jude Classic and has been the naming sponsor of the PGA Tour's season-long points contention and playoffs, the FedExCup.

"The PGA TOUR is saddened to larn of the passing of Frederick W. Smith the visionary of FedEx who led each time with tremendous quality and values," PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said successful a statement. "FedEx has been a tremendous spouse for astir 40 years, and its power connected our athletics done tourney sponsorship and its engagement from time 1 of the FedExCup has been monumental. Fred and his institution made important contributions to the maturation and popularity of PGA TOUR golf, and the TOUR continues to payment from his and FedEx's influence, which volition beryllium felt for generations to come. We mourn the nonaccomplishment of a legendary concern person and philanthropist and connection our condolences to his family."

FedEx started operating successful 1973, delivering tiny parcels and documents much rapidly than the postal service. Over the adjacent half-century, Smith oversaw the maturation of a institution that became thing of an economical bellwether due to the fact that truthful galore different companies trust connected it.

Memphis, Tennessee-based FedEx became a planetary proscription and logistics institution that averages 17 cardinal shipments per concern day. Smith stepped down arsenic CEO successful 2022 but remained enforcement chairman.

After graduating from Yale University successful 1966, Smith joined the U.S. Marines and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant. He near the subject arsenic a skipper successful 1969 aft 2 tours successful Vietnam wherever helium was decorated for bravery and wounds received successful combat.

He told The Associated Press successful a 2023 interrogation that everything helium did moving FedEx came from his acquisition successful the Marines, not what helium learned astatine Yale.

Though 1 of Memphis' best-known and astir salient citizens, Smith mostly avoided the nationalist spotlight, devoting his energies to enactment and family.

Despite his debased profile, Smith made a cameo quality successful the 2000 movie "Castaway" starring Tom Hanks. The movie was astir a FedEx worker stranded connected an island.

ESPN's John Keim and The Associated Press contributed to this report.