Political Quotes

“last week, our Nation lost a revolutionary business leader, a committed philanthropist, an incredible Tennessean; his name, Fred Smith. Like all great leaders, Fred had a vision for a better future, and he did everything possible to make it happen. That is why, in 1973, he founded FedEx with a simple yet bold idea: improve overnight delivery. Today, we take instant shipping for granted in many ways. It is the engine of our global economy, but back then, it was not considered to be a practical or workable idea. So it took Fred to make it happen. He pioneered innovations in transportation and logistics, and those pioneering innovations have defined the industry ever since. He truly led the way, and it was not easy. But with his commitment to excellence, he grew FedEx into a $53 billion company that employs half a million people, connects more than 220 countries and territories, and moves more than 17 million shipments each and every day. Even with his global accomplishments, Fred never lost sight of home. He based his company in his hometown of Memphis, turning the city into a center for global logistics. And through his philanthropic support for education, community programs, arts, healthcare, and more, he always found ways to give back to his community and to make Memphis a better place. In many ways, service truly defined his life. Before founding FedEx, Fred served for 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including two tours in Vietnam.”