Rites will be today for Frederick Smith, Bus Company's Head.
Dixie Greyhound Executive dies at 53-He rose from humble beginning.
Transportation concern grew from lone vehicle he drove himself-Memphian noted for hard work, hard play.
Frederick Smith who from a humble beginning carved out a successful career in the bus transportation business and became the head of the Dixie Greyhound Lines, Inc., died at 6:45 yesterday morning at Baptist Hospital. He was 53.
Services will be held at 2 this afternoon at St. John's Episcopal Church with the Rev Alfred Loaring-Clark officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Hill Mausoleum with National Funeral Home in charge.
Three officials of the Greyhound Corporation will come down from Chicago to attend the services. They are: O.S. Casear, President; R.A.L. Bogan, Executive Vice President; and Ivan Bowen, Vice President and General Counsel. Tribute will be paid to Mr. Smith at the time the services begin when more than 200 buses of the Dixie Greyhound Lines come to a halt for one minute.
Mr. Smith's death came unexpectedly although he was hospitalized for a time last May after suffering a heart attack. Recently, he had suffered a nervous disorder and was admitted to Baptist Hospital Tuesday for a rest.
Mr. Smith was one of Memphis' first and most ardent yachtsmen. The transportation firm he headed grew from one bus which he drove himself to a business which is scheduled to move into a three-quarter million dollar home on the southeast corner of Union and Hernando September 1, 1949.
Because of bad health and plans to go to South America to make a survey in view of starting a transportation firm there, Mr. Smith left the Greyhound Presidency in April, 1946. He was elected to the newly created position of Chairman of the Board. His brother, Earl W. Smith, was elected president at a directors meeting in Chicago.
Mr. Smith had a simple but comprehensive philosophy of life which was that failure was impossible for him. To others, he once said: "Many a man is struggling along on a small salary a week because he doesn't realize he can earn 10 times as much".
Born on a farm in Southeast Missouri, Mr. Smith was the son of the late Capt. James B. Smith, for many years a master of steamboats on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. But, it was in Paducah, Ky., where he spent his boyhood that his true life Haratio Alger story started. He sold newspapers there while the late Irving S. Cobb was Managing Editor of the newspaper.
Mr. Smith's first ambition was to follow in the footsteps of his father so when 16 years old he became clerk on the old Lee Line steamers. Realizing other businesses might hold bigger opportunities he embarked in the automobile business at Memphis, and for a time was a salesman for the John T. Fisher Motor Company.
Later he became southeastern sales manager for the Bethlehem Motor Truck Corporation. In 1925 he conceived the idea that highway buses were the coming transportation, so he bought a used truck, chassis and built a body on it, doing most of the work himself. It was a crude contraption when he completed it, compared to the buses of today, but Mr. Smith had faith in his latest venture, so he started operating it from Memphis to Rosemark, Tenn. That was the beginning of his success.
In a few months he formed the Smith Motor Coach Company and was elected its president, thus, in 1926, he began operating buses from Memphis to Jackson and other points. In 1931 he became a large stockholder in the Greyhound Bus Line and formed the Dixie Greyhound Lines, merging the Smith Motor Coach Company with it.
Mr. Smith also purchases the Egyptian Motor Bus Corporation of Illinois. His bus lines were among a number merged to form the Greyhound lines in 1930.
He served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy during World War II.
Indefatigable, Mr. Smith was regarded by his associates as a man with complete self-confidence and an uncanny ability to recognize a profitable venture.
He worked hard and he played as hard as he worked. Several years ago he bought a speed boat and raced it from New Orleans to St. Louis, beating the previous record which had been established by the late Dr. Louis LeRoy.
Before the war, he purchased a large sea-going cruiser and took one of his frequent Caribbean cruises. When war came the vessel was obtained by the Canadian Government.
More recently he had a United States Navy destroyer converted into a yacht, the "Salchanick", on which he made several trips into the Atlantic. He later sold this vessel and at the time of his death was converting a submarine chaser into a cabin cruiser.
Mr. Smith was President of the National Toddle House System, Inc., and also headed Frederick Smith Enterprises, which managed numerous properties on Main, Second and Third and several apartment houses.
His interest in yachting was shared with almost equal enthusiasm in the breeding of fine cattle and he owned one of the finest Aberdeen-Angus herds in the Mid-South. He had extensive farming interests in Desoto County, Miss., on which he initiated many modern farming practices.
His home at 527 East Parkway South was filled with a fine collection of oil paintings.
His charities, although seldom publicized, were on a large scale. His donations to numerous causes were considerable and he completely financed many undertakings. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church.
An expansive host, Mr. Smith particularly enjoyed entertaining his friends on his boats and at his home.
In addition to his brother, he leaves his wife, Mrs. Sally Wallace Smith, and three children, Laura Ann Smith, 13, Charlotte Smith, 11, and Frederick, Jr., 4.
The Commercial Appeal, Sunday, November 21, 1948
____________________________________________
Businessman. Founder of the Toddle House restaurant chain, the Smith Motor Coach Company, and in 1931 bought the Greyhound Corporation, which was later renamed the Dixie Greyhound Line. Smith is the Father of FedEx founder and CEO, Frederick Wallace Smith.
____________________________________________
James Frederick Smith was the son of Captain James Buchanan "Jim Buck" Smith, who commanded steamboats on the rivers Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland – for several owners, including the Ryman Line, the property of Captain Tom Ryman, who in 1892 gave the funds for the construction of the Union Gospel Tabernacle in Nashville (which became renamed as the Ryman Auditorium after the benefactor died in 1904, and which served as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974). Early in his life (before age 20) young Smith discarded his first name, strongly preferring to be known as Fred or Frederick.
He was a board member of the Tennessee Childrens Home Society, and donated the final home to the society, and Georgia Tann.
_________________________________________
From death certificate
Father: J.B. Smith (Massac, IL)
Mother: Laura Ann Windland (Anna, IL)
Spouse: Sallie Wallace Smith
Died at Baptist Hospital, of mycardial infarction.
Dixie Greyhound Executive dies at 53-He rose from humble beginning.
Transportation concern grew from lone vehicle he drove himself-Memphian noted for hard work, hard play.
Frederick Smith who from a humble beginning carved out a successful career in the bus transportation business and became the head of the Dixie Greyhound Lines, Inc., died at 6:45 yesterday morning at Baptist Hospital. He was 53.
Services will be held at 2 this afternoon at St. John's Episcopal Church with the Rev Alfred Loaring-Clark officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Hill Mausoleum with National Funeral Home in charge.
Three officials of the Greyhound Corporation will come down from Chicago to attend the services. They are: O.S. Casear, President; R.A.L. Bogan, Executive Vice President; and Ivan Bowen, Vice President and General Counsel. Tribute will be paid to Mr. Smith at the time the services begin when more than 200 buses of the Dixie Greyhound Lines come to a halt for one minute.
Mr. Smith's death came unexpectedly although he was hospitalized for a time last May after suffering a heart attack. Recently, he had suffered a nervous disorder and was admitted to Baptist Hospital Tuesday for a rest.
Mr. Smith was one of Memphis' first and most ardent yachtsmen. The transportation firm he headed grew from one bus which he drove himself to a business which is scheduled to move into a three-quarter million dollar home on the southeast corner of Union and Hernando September 1, 1949.
Because of bad health and plans to go to South America to make a survey in view of starting a transportation firm there, Mr. Smith left the Greyhound Presidency in April, 1946. He was elected to the newly created position of Chairman of the Board. His brother, Earl W. Smith, was elected president at a directors meeting in Chicago.
Mr. Smith had a simple but comprehensive philosophy of life which was that failure was impossible for him. To others, he once said: "Many a man is struggling along on a small salary a week because he doesn't realize he can earn 10 times as much".
Born on a farm in Southeast Missouri, Mr. Smith was the son of the late Capt. James B. Smith, for many years a master of steamboats on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. But, it was in Paducah, Ky., where he spent his boyhood that his true life Haratio Alger story started. He sold newspapers there while the late Irving S. Cobb was Managing Editor of the newspaper.
Mr. Smith's first ambition was to follow in the footsteps of his father so when 16 years old he became clerk on the old Lee Line steamers. Realizing other businesses might hold bigger opportunities he embarked in the automobile business at Memphis, and for a time was a salesman for the John T. Fisher Motor Company.
Later he became southeastern sales manager for the Bethlehem Motor Truck Corporation. In 1925 he conceived the idea that highway buses were the coming transportation, so he bought a used truck, chassis and built a body on it, doing most of the work himself. It was a crude contraption when he completed it, compared to the buses of today, but Mr. Smith had faith in his latest venture, so he started operating it from Memphis to Rosemark, Tenn. That was the beginning of his success.
In a few months he formed the Smith Motor Coach Company and was elected its president, thus, in 1926, he began operating buses from Memphis to Jackson and other points. In 1931 he became a large stockholder in the Greyhound Bus Line and formed the Dixie Greyhound Lines, merging the Smith Motor Coach Company with it.
Mr. Smith also purchases the Egyptian Motor Bus Corporation of Illinois. His bus lines were among a number merged to form the Greyhound lines in 1930.
He served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy during World War II.
Indefatigable, Mr. Smith was regarded by his associates as a man with complete self-confidence and an uncanny ability to recognize a profitable venture.
He worked hard and he played as hard as he worked. Several years ago he bought a speed boat and raced it from New Orleans to St. Louis, beating the previous record which had been established by the late Dr. Louis LeRoy.
Before the war, he purchased a large sea-going cruiser and took one of his frequent Caribbean cruises. When war came the vessel was obtained by the Canadian Government.
More recently he had a United States Navy destroyer converted into a yacht, the "Salchanick", on which he made several trips into the Atlantic. He later sold this vessel and at the time of his death was converting a submarine chaser into a cabin cruiser.
Mr. Smith was President of the National Toddle House System, Inc., and also headed Frederick Smith Enterprises, which managed numerous properties on Main, Second and Third and several apartment houses.
His interest in yachting was shared with almost equal enthusiasm in the breeding of fine cattle and he owned one of the finest Aberdeen-Angus herds in the Mid-South. He had extensive farming interests in Desoto County, Miss., on which he initiated many modern farming practices.
His home at 527 East Parkway South was filled with a fine collection of oil paintings.
His charities, although seldom publicized, were on a large scale. His donations to numerous causes were considerable and he completely financed many undertakings. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church.
An expansive host, Mr. Smith particularly enjoyed entertaining his friends on his boats and at his home.
In addition to his brother, he leaves his wife, Mrs. Sally Wallace Smith, and three children, Laura Ann Smith, 13, Charlotte Smith, 11, and Frederick, Jr., 4.
The Commercial Appeal, Sunday, November 21, 1948
____________________________________________
Businessman. Founder of the Toddle House restaurant chain, the Smith Motor Coach Company, and in 1931 bought the Greyhound Corporation, which was later renamed the Dixie Greyhound Line. Smith is the Father of FedEx founder and CEO, Frederick Wallace Smith.
____________________________________________
James Frederick Smith was the son of Captain James Buchanan "Jim Buck" Smith, who commanded steamboats on the rivers Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland – for several owners, including the Ryman Line, the property of Captain Tom Ryman, who in 1892 gave the funds for the construction of the Union Gospel Tabernacle in Nashville (which became renamed as the Ryman Auditorium after the benefactor died in 1904, and which served as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974). Early in his life (before age 20) young Smith discarded his first name, strongly preferring to be known as Fred or Frederick.
He was a board member of the Tennessee Childrens Home Society, and donated the final home to the society, and Georgia Tann.
_________________________________________
From death certificate
Father: J.B. Smith (Massac, IL)
Mother: Laura Ann Windland (Anna, IL)
Spouse: Sallie Wallace Smith
Died at Baptist Hospital, of mycardial infarction.
Rites will be today for Frederick Smith, Bus Company's Head.
Dixie Greyhound Executive dies at 53-He rose from humble beginning.
Transportation concern grew from lone vehicle he drove himself-Memphian noted for hard work, hard play.
Frederick Smith who from a humble beginning carved out a successful career in the bus transportation business and became the head of the Dixie Greyhound Lines, Inc., died at 6:45 yesterday morning at Baptist Hospital. He was 53.
Services will be held at 2 this afternoon at St. John's Episcopal Church with the Rev Alfred Loaring-Clark officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Hill Mausoleum with National Funeral Home in charge.
Three officials of the Greyhound Corporation will come down from Chicago to attend the services. They are: O.S. Casear, President; R.A.L. Bogan, Executive Vice President; and Ivan Bowen, Vice President and General Counsel. Tribute will be paid to Mr. Smith at the time the services begin when more than 200 buses of the Dixie Greyhound Lines come to a halt for one minute.
Mr. Smith's death came unexpectedly although he was hospitalized for a time last May after suffering a heart attack. Recently, he had suffered a nervous disorder and was admitted to Baptist Hospital Tuesday for a rest.
Mr. Smith was one of Memphis' first and most ardent yachtsmen. The transportation firm he headed grew from one bus which he drove himself to a business which is scheduled to move into a three-quarter million dollar home on the southeast corner of Union and Hernando September 1, 1949.
Because of bad health and plans to go to South America to make a survey in view of starting a transportation firm there, Mr. Smith left the Greyhound Presidency in April, 1946. He was elected to the newly created position of Chairman of the Board. His brother, Earl W. Smith, was elected president at a directors meeting in Chicago.
Mr. Smith had a simple but comprehensive philosophy of life which was that failure was impossible for him. To others, he once said: "Many a man is struggling along on a small salary a week because he doesn't realize he can earn 10 times as much".
Born on a farm in Southeast Missouri, Mr. Smith was the son of the late Capt. James B. Smith, for many years a master of steamboats on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. But, it was in Paducah, Ky., where he spent his boyhood that his true life Haratio Alger story started. He sold newspapers there while the late Irving S. Cobb was Managing Editor of the newspaper.
Mr. Smith's first ambition was to follow in the footsteps of his father so when 16 years old he became clerk on the old Lee Line steamers. Realizing other businesses might hold bigger opportunities he embarked in the automobile business at Memphis, and for a time was a salesman for the John T. Fisher Motor Company.
Later he became southeastern sales manager for the Bethlehem Motor Truck Corporation. In 1925 he conceived the idea that highway buses were the coming transportation, so he bought a used truck, chassis and built a body on it, doing most of the work himself. It was a crude contraption when he completed it, compared to the buses of today, but Mr. Smith had faith in his latest venture, so he started operating it from Memphis to Rosemark, Tenn. That was the beginning of his success.
In a few months he formed the Smith Motor Coach Company and was elected its president, thus, in 1926, he began operating buses from Memphis to Jackson and other points. In 1931 he became a large stockholder in the Greyhound Bus Line and formed the Dixie Greyhound Lines, merging the Smith Motor Coach Company with it.
Mr. Smith also purchases the Egyptian Motor Bus Corporation of Illinois. His bus lines were among a number merged to form the Greyhound lines in 1930.
He served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy during World War II.
Indefatigable, Mr. Smith was regarded by his associates as a man with complete self-confidence and an uncanny ability to recognize a profitable venture.
He worked hard and he played as hard as he worked. Several years ago he bought a speed boat and raced it from New Orleans to St. Louis, beating the previous record which had been established by the late Dr. Louis LeRoy.
Before the war, he purchased a large sea-going cruiser and took one of his frequent Caribbean cruises. When war came the vessel was obtained by the Canadian Government.
More recently he had a United States Navy destroyer converted into a yacht, the "Salchanick", on which he made several trips into the Atlantic. He later sold this vessel and at the time of his death was converting a submarine chaser into a cabin cruiser.
Mr. Smith was President of the National Toddle House System, Inc., and also headed Frederick Smith Enterprises, which managed numerous properties on Main, Second and Third and several apartment houses.
His interest in yachting was shared with almost equal enthusiasm in the breeding of fine cattle and he owned one of the finest Aberdeen-Angus herds in the Mid-South. He had extensive farming interests in Desoto County, Miss., on which he initiated many modern farming practices.
His home at 527 East Parkway South was filled with a fine collection of oil paintings.
His charities, although seldom publicized, were on a large scale. His donations to numerous causes were considerable and he completely financed many undertakings. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church.
An expansive host, Mr. Smith particularly enjoyed entertaining his friends on his boats and at his home.
In addition to his brother, he leaves his wife, Mrs. Sally Wallace Smith, and three children, Laura Ann Smith, 13, Charlotte Smith, 11, and Frederick, Jr., 4.
The Commercial Appeal, Sunday, November 21, 1948
____________________________________________
Businessman. Founder of the Toddle House restaurant chain, the Smith Motor Coach Company, and in 1931 bought the Greyhound Corporation, which was later renamed the Dixie Greyhound Line. Smith is the Father of FedEx founder and CEO, Frederick Wallace Smith.
____________________________________________
James Frederick Smith was the son of Captain James Buchanan "Jim Buck" Smith, who commanded steamboats on the rivers Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland – for several owners, including the Ryman Line, the property of Captain Tom Ryman, who in 1892 gave the funds for the construction of the Union Gospel Tabernacle in Nashville (which became renamed as the Ryman Auditorium after the benefactor died in 1904, and which served as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974). Early in his life (before age 20) young Smith discarded his first name, strongly preferring to be known as Fred or Frederick.
He was a board member of the Tennessee Childrens Home Society, and donated the final home to the society, and Georgia Tann.
_________________________________________
From death certificate
Father: J.B. Smith (Massac, IL)
Mother: Laura Ann Windland (Anna, IL)
Spouse: Sallie Wallace Smith
Died at Baptist Hospital, of mycardial infarction.
Dixie Greyhound Executive dies at 53-He rose from humble beginning.
Transportation concern grew from lone vehicle he drove himself-Memphian noted for hard work, hard play.
Frederick Smith who from a humble beginning carved out a successful career in the bus transportation business and became the head of the Dixie Greyhound Lines, Inc., died at 6:45 yesterday morning at Baptist Hospital. He was 53.
Services will be held at 2 this afternoon at St. John's Episcopal Church with the Rev Alfred Loaring-Clark officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Hill Mausoleum with National Funeral Home in charge.
Three officials of the Greyhound Corporation will come down from Chicago to attend the services. They are: O.S. Casear, President; R.A.L. Bogan, Executive Vice President; and Ivan Bowen, Vice President and General Counsel. Tribute will be paid to Mr. Smith at the time the services begin when more than 200 buses of the Dixie Greyhound Lines come to a halt for one minute.
Mr. Smith's death came unexpectedly although he was hospitalized for a time last May after suffering a heart attack. Recently, he had suffered a nervous disorder and was admitted to Baptist Hospital Tuesday for a rest.
Mr. Smith was one of Memphis' first and most ardent yachtsmen. The transportation firm he headed grew from one bus which he drove himself to a business which is scheduled to move into a three-quarter million dollar home on the southeast corner of Union and Hernando September 1, 1949.
Because of bad health and plans to go to South America to make a survey in view of starting a transportation firm there, Mr. Smith left the Greyhound Presidency in April, 1946. He was elected to the newly created position of Chairman of the Board. His brother, Earl W. Smith, was elected president at a directors meeting in Chicago.
Mr. Smith had a simple but comprehensive philosophy of life which was that failure was impossible for him. To others, he once said: "Many a man is struggling along on a small salary a week because he doesn't realize he can earn 10 times as much".
Born on a farm in Southeast Missouri, Mr. Smith was the son of the late Capt. James B. Smith, for many years a master of steamboats on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. But, it was in Paducah, Ky., where he spent his boyhood that his true life Haratio Alger story started. He sold newspapers there while the late Irving S. Cobb was Managing Editor of the newspaper.
Mr. Smith's first ambition was to follow in the footsteps of his father so when 16 years old he became clerk on the old Lee Line steamers. Realizing other businesses might hold bigger opportunities he embarked in the automobile business at Memphis, and for a time was a salesman for the John T. Fisher Motor Company.
Later he became southeastern sales manager for the Bethlehem Motor Truck Corporation. In 1925 he conceived the idea that highway buses were the coming transportation, so he bought a used truck, chassis and built a body on it, doing most of the work himself. It was a crude contraption when he completed it, compared to the buses of today, but Mr. Smith had faith in his latest venture, so he started operating it from Memphis to Rosemark, Tenn. That was the beginning of his success.
In a few months he formed the Smith Motor Coach Company and was elected its president, thus, in 1926, he began operating buses from Memphis to Jackson and other points. In 1931 he became a large stockholder in the Greyhound Bus Line and formed the Dixie Greyhound Lines, merging the Smith Motor Coach Company with it.
Mr. Smith also purchases the Egyptian Motor Bus Corporation of Illinois. His bus lines were among a number merged to form the Greyhound lines in 1930.
He served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy during World War II.
Indefatigable, Mr. Smith was regarded by his associates as a man with complete self-confidence and an uncanny ability to recognize a profitable venture.
He worked hard and he played as hard as he worked. Several years ago he bought a speed boat and raced it from New Orleans to St. Louis, beating the previous record which had been established by the late Dr. Louis LeRoy.
Before the war, he purchased a large sea-going cruiser and took one of his frequent Caribbean cruises. When war came the vessel was obtained by the Canadian Government.
More recently he had a United States Navy destroyer converted into a yacht, the "Salchanick", on which he made several trips into the Atlantic. He later sold this vessel and at the time of his death was converting a submarine chaser into a cabin cruiser.
Mr. Smith was President of the National Toddle House System, Inc., and also headed Frederick Smith Enterprises, which managed numerous properties on Main, Second and Third and several apartment houses.
His interest in yachting was shared with almost equal enthusiasm in the breeding of fine cattle and he owned one of the finest Aberdeen-Angus herds in the Mid-South. He had extensive farming interests in Desoto County, Miss., on which he initiated many modern farming practices.
His home at 527 East Parkway South was filled with a fine collection of oil paintings.
His charities, although seldom publicized, were on a large scale. His donations to numerous causes were considerable and he completely financed many undertakings. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church.
An expansive host, Mr. Smith particularly enjoyed entertaining his friends on his boats and at his home.
In addition to his brother, he leaves his wife, Mrs. Sally Wallace Smith, and three children, Laura Ann Smith, 13, Charlotte Smith, 11, and Frederick, Jr., 4.
The Commercial Appeal, Sunday, November 21, 1948
____________________________________________
Businessman. Founder of the Toddle House restaurant chain, the Smith Motor Coach Company, and in 1931 bought the Greyhound Corporation, which was later renamed the Dixie Greyhound Line. Smith is the Father of FedEx founder and CEO, Frederick Wallace Smith.
____________________________________________
James Frederick Smith was the son of Captain James Buchanan "Jim Buck" Smith, who commanded steamboats on the rivers Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland – for several owners, including the Ryman Line, the property of Captain Tom Ryman, who in 1892 gave the funds for the construction of the Union Gospel Tabernacle in Nashville (which became renamed as the Ryman Auditorium after the benefactor died in 1904, and which served as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974). Early in his life (before age 20) young Smith discarded his first name, strongly preferring to be known as Fred or Frederick.
He was a board member of the Tennessee Childrens Home Society, and donated the final home to the society, and Georgia Tann.
_________________________________________
From death certificate
Father: J.B. Smith (Massac, IL)
Mother: Laura Ann Windland (Anna, IL)
Spouse: Sallie Wallace Smith
Died at Baptist Hospital, of mycardial infarction.
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