The rise of FedEx Corp. from a startup express carrier with a few aircraft to the largest air cargo airline in the world and facilitator of global commerce is one of the remarkable stories in American business history.

Fred Smith is of course a giant in the history of American business. His vision and daring revolutionized global commerce and connected the world in unprecedented ways. But to those who knew him, Fred was something even rarer: a leader whose values ran even deeper than his ambition.