Board votes to rename Memphis International Airport after FedEx founder Fred Smith
The process is officially underway to rename Memphis International Airport after FedEx founder Fred Smith.
At the start of its June 26 monthly meeting, the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to begin the process of renaming Memphis International Airport after Smith, who died June 21 at 80.
Board Chairman Michael Keeney said he has brought up renaming the airport after Smith to state officials and has their support.
FRED SMITH'S IMPACT IN MEMPHIS: FedEx founder Fred Smith believed in Memphis — and 'Absolutely, Positively' transformed it
"I will say that I've had the opportunity to discuss (renaming the airport) with our governor (Bill Lee), legislative leaders and members of all of the Congressional delegation, and they all are very supportive of this action," Keeney said.
In a statement sent to The Commercial Appeal on June 27, FedEx said the company wholeheartedly endorses renaming the airport after Smith.
"We fully support the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority's resolution seeking to rename the Memphis International Airport in honor of our founder Frederick W. Smith," FedEx said. "It would be a fitting tribute to the man who launched a company that revolutionized the airport, the city of Memphis, and the way the world works. We support the advancement of this resolution for full approval and look forward to operating out of a location that bears his name."
Board Commissioner Jack Sammons said he spent some time on June 21 with Smith before he died, saying they "both had enjoyed unfiltered conversations."
During the June 26 meeting, Sammons talked about his attempt to push for the airport to be renamed after Smith 30 years ago. However, Smith didn't support the idea at that time and told Sammons that naming buildings was for dead people. Sammons later read a roughly 5-minute resolution on the Airport Authority looking to honor Smith by renaming Memphis International after him.
The resolution by Sammons included the following.
"Now, therefore, be it resolved, by the Board of Commissioners of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, that the name of the Memphis International Airport will be changed to honor the late Mr. Frederick W. Smith and directs the president and CEO to immediately begin the process to effectuate the change in consultation with Mr. Smith's family, create a timeline and implementation plan for all necessary approvals and determine the estimated costs associated with the renaming of the airport in honor of the aforementioned Smith."
FEDEX LEADERS ON FRED SMITH: FedEx leaders pay tribute to Fred Smith: 'His legacy will be felt for years to come'
Capt. Albert Glenn serves as vice chair on the Airport Authority Board. Glenn, a retired FedEx pilot whose career at the Memphis-based logistics giant spanned more than 40 years, talked about the value of what Smith did to make a difference in Memphis and throughout the country.
"The sacrifice that he gave, and how all that not only made it better for me, but it made it better for my family," Glenn said. "It made it better for our community, made it better for our city and it made it better for the world. I've traveled all over. I can tell you the number of people that have walked up and talked about what Mr. Smith has done and how it has benefited them. This is an opportunity for us to continue to show that legacy of what he brought to the city and what he brought to all of us by naming the airport after him."
The renaming of the airport would be a process requiring FAA approval and additional steps.
"We are honored to be tasked with this well-deserved recognition for him," Airport Authority President and CEO Terry Blue said in a news release. "There are many regulatory, logistical and operational steps involved in renaming an airport, but our staff will immediately begin the process. More details will be announced as they become available."
Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610.
To keep up with the latest news from the Shelby County suburbs, sign up here for our Suburban Pulse weekly newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Board votes to rename Memphis International Airport after Fred Smith
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
3 Stocks That Shoppers Love But Wall Street Hates… And That Could Soar From Here
A new meme stock rally has emerged, potentially surpassing the 2021 craze in scale, according to WallStreetBets founder Jaime Rogozinski. Struggling retailers and consumer brands, such as Kohl's (KSS), GoPro (GPRO), and Krispy Kreme (DNUT) surged last week, apparently driven by retail investors mobilizing online. American Eagle (AEO) stock jumped 10% after announcing Sydney Sweeney as a brand ambassador, exemplifying how celebrity endorsements now drive trading. Meme stock traders often disregard fundamentals, instead supporting brands based on emotional or ideological reasons. For example, Trump Media (DJT) is valued at $4 billion yet generates just $1 million in quarterly revenue. More News from Barchart Morgan Stanley Says Nvidia Has 'Exceptional' Strength. Should You Buy NVDA Stock Here? Dear MicroStrategy Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for July 31 2 Growth Stocks Wall Street Predicts Will Soar 74% to 159% Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! If you are looking for more meme mania, here are three consumer brands that could rally from current levels, given that they are highly shorted. Meme Stock #1: Kohl's Kohl's stock erupted last Tuesday, surging as much as 105% in early trading before closing 37% higher on July 22 at $14.34. The surge appears to be driven primarily by social media hype rather than fundamental factors. With nearly 45% of Kohl's float sold short, it became a prime target for retail traders seeking to trigger a short squeeze. Trading was temporarily halted due to extreme volatility as the stock oscillated wildly between gains and losses. Kohl's business remains troubled despite the stock euphoria. Its Q1 earnings call revealed ongoing challenges, with comparable sales declining 3.9% and leadership instability following the termination of CEO Ashley Buchanan. Market experts warn that meme stock rallies typically see companies collapse back to pre-surge levels once the frenzy subsides, making ongoing gains unlikely. Out of the 12 analysts covering KSS stock, six recommend 'Hold,' one recommends 'Moderate Sell,' and five recommend 'Strong Sell.' The average stock price target for KSS stock is $7.69, 32% below the current price. Meme Stock #2: Beyond Meat Down almost 99% from its all-time highs, Beyond Meat (BYND) stock has nearly 40% of its float sold short and may be on the watchlist of meme stock traders. In Q1, Beyond Meat reported sales of $68.7 million, down more than 9% year over year amid challenges in the plant-based meat category. It posted a gross loss of $1.1 million, marking a sharp reversal from the $3.7 million profit achieved in the same period last year. Volume decreased 11.2% year-over-year, driven by weak demand in U.S. retail and foodservice channels, distribution losses as retailers moved products from refrigerated to frozen sections, and broader macroeconomic pressures affecting consumer spending. CEO Ethan Brown acknowledged this represented 'a deviation from the previous 2 quarters,' when the company had shown signs of recovery. Moreover, Beyond Meat withdrew its full-year guidance, citing elevated uncertainty. Despite operational challenges, Brown remains focused on cost reduction and improving consumer perception through new marketing campaigns, emphasizing a commitment to profitability over growth. Out of the eight analysts covering BYND stock, four recommend 'Hold' and four recommend 'Strong Sell.' The average target price for BYND stock is $2.71, 16% below the current price. Meme Stock #3: 1-800 Flowers The final meme stock on the list is 1-800 Flowers (FLWS), which has nearly 73% of its float sold short. Two analysts cover FLWS stock, with one recommending a 'Strong Buy' and the other recommending a 'Hold.' The average target price for FLWS stock is $8.50, 44% above the current price. 1-800-Flowers delivered a massive Q3 earnings miss, posting a loss of $0.71 per share against analyst expectations for a loss of $0.34, while revenue plunged 12.6% to $331.5 million. CEO Jim McCann acknowledged significant self-inflicted wounds, particularly a 'colossal screw up' with the company's order management system implementation that cost $11 million over two quarters and disrupted customer service during the critical holiday period. The Consumer Floral and Gifts segment declined 11.4%, while Gourmet Foods plummeted 18.2%. In response to these challenges, the company unveiled its ambitious 'Celebrations Wave' strategy, representing what McCann called their 'sixth wave of innovation.' The initiative aims to create a comprehensive celebrations ecosystem using AI and personalized experiences to reduce customer acquisition costs and increase engagement. The company withdrew full-year guidance amid macroeconomic uncertainty and rising marketing costs, with net debt jumping to $75 million from $9 million year-over-year, highlighting the urgent need for a strategic overhaul. On the date of publication, Aditya Raghunath did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump administration cancels plans to develop new offshore wind projects
The Trump administration is canceling plans to use large areas of federal waters for new offshore wind development, the latest step to suppress the industry in the United States. More than 3.5 million acres had been designated wind energy areas, the offshore locations deemed most suitable for wind energy development. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is now rescinding all designated wind energy areas in federal waters, announcing on Wednesday an end to setting aside large areas for 'speculative wind development." Offshore wind lease sales were anticipated off the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Maine, New York, California and Oregon, as well as in the central Atlantic. The Biden administration last year had announced a five-year schedule to lease federal offshore tracts for wind energy production. Trump began reversing the country's energy policies after taking office in January. A series of executive orders took aim at increasing oil, gas and coal production. The Republican president has been hostile to renewable energy, particularly offshore wind. One early executive order temporarily halted offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and paused the issuance of approvals, permits and loans for all wind projects. In trying to make a case against wind energy, he has relied on false and misleading claims about the use of wind power in the U.S. and around the world. The bureau said it was acting in accordance with Trump's action and an order by his interior secretary this week to end any preferential treatment toward wind and solar facilities, which were described as unreliable, foreign-controlled energy sources. Robin Shaffer, president of Protect Our Coast New Jersey, applauded the administration for its actions and said they were long overdue. Opponents of offshore wind projects are particularly vocal and well-organized in New Jersey. 'It's hard to believe these projects ever got this far because of the immensity, scale, scope and expense, compared to relatively cheap and reliable forms of onshore power,' he said Thursday. 'We're nearly there, but we haven't reached the finish line yet.' Attorneys general from 17 states and the District of Columbia are suing in federal court to challenge Trump's executive order halting leasing and permitting for wind energy projects. His administration had also halted work on a major offshore wind project for New York, but allowed it to resume in May. The nation's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, a 12-turbine wind farm called South Fork, opened last year east of Montauk Point, New York. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at Jennifer Mcdermott, The Associated Press
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fermi America and Hyundai sign MoU for nuclear-powered grid project
Fermi America, in collaboration with the Texas Tech University System, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hyundai Engineering & Construction (E&C) to build the nuclear component of the world's largest private power grid for next-generation AI. The two entities signed the MoU in Seoul, South Korea, outlining their terms to jointly design and execute the delivery of safe and clean nuclear power within the private grid project. The project will integrate with combined-cycle natural gas, solar power and battery storage alongside data centre infrastructure capable of delivering up to 11GW of power. The partners will jointly plan for a nuclear-based hybrid energy venture, which includes developing a comprehensive business package for each project phase, conducting feasibility studies and creating basic engineering designs (FEED) as well as executing engineering, procurement and construction projects. Fermi America co-founder Toby Neugebauer stated: "We couldn't be more pleased to partner with the team at Hyundai E&C to power the future of AI. America doesn't have time to practice – we need to work with proven partners like Hyundai, who have a successful track record of planning and building safe, clean, new nuclear energy. Welcome to Texas!" In June 2025, Fermi America submitted its combined operating licence application in the US for building AP1000 nuclear units, which has been accepted for review. With Hyundai E&C's involvement confirmed, construction on the complex will commence in 2026 with the first reactor operational by 2032. Hyundai E&C CEO Hanwoo Lee stated: "We have been impressed by the executive team Fermi America has assembled, bringing together seasoned leaders in their respective fields. "We are especially pleased to see familiar faces in nuclear leadership from one of the most successful recent new build projects, and we look forward to working together to bring this ambitious vision to life." The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company recently partnered Hyundai E&C to explore international opportunities in the nuclear energy sector. The two organisations formalised their collaboration by signing an MoU. "Fermi America and Hyundai sign MoU for nuclear-powered grid project" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
