| | Fred Smith 1944— - EARLY LIFE, THE ROAD TO FEDEX, A RADICAL IDEA, GOING GLOBAL |
 | | From early childhood, Smith was troubled by a birth defect known as Calve Perthes disease, a peculiar form of childhood arthritis of the hips caused by a temporary loss of blood supply to the hip. |
| | Smith also needed to design a transportation system that could not only link any two parts of the country but also ensure that packages going back and forth could be delivered within the promised 24-hour window—something that had never been tried before in cargo delivery. |
| | Smith also realized that by using both air and ground transport, package deliveries did not have to take the most direct route, as long as they made it to their destinations within 24 hours. |
| www.referenceforbusiness.com /biography/S-Z/Smith-Fred-1944.html (2893 words) |
