Fred Smith is an American businessman best known as the founder and CEO of FedEx, a global courier delivery services company. He established the company in 1971, revolutionizing the logistics industry with his innovative ideas about overnight shipping and package tracking. Smith was born on August 11, 1943, in Marks, Mississippi. He attended Yale University, where he developed the concept for FedEx in a paper for a business class. Over the years, he has received numerous awards for his contributions to business and logistics, making him a prominent figure in the industry.