FedEx St Jude Championship Honors Late Founder Fred Smith in Memphis

The 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis was notably the first without Fred Smith, the late founder and longtime CEO of FedEx, who passed away in June at age 80. Smith, a Mississippi native and Yale graduate, built FedEx into a global logistics giant and played a significant role in Memphis's economy and community, including strong support for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. During the tournament, a moment of silence was held in his honor, followed by a symbolic FedEx plane flyover with his initials. On what would have been his 81st birthday, Memphis hosted a public Celebration of Life event at FedExForum featuring speakers and musical performances that highlighted Smith's profound impact on the city and the shipping industry. The FedEx St. Jude Championship, which Smith helped elevate through sponsorship since 1986, continues as a major PGA Tour event and a vital fundraiser for St. Jude, having raised over $80 million since its inception. Smith's legacy as both a business innovator and philanthropist remains deeply embedded in Memphis’s identity.