Just received very sad news and confirmation—Fred Smith, visionary founder of FedEx, has passed away from a heart attack. So very sad.

Meeting him, working with him, and bringing FedEx to Subic—transforming it into FedEx’s global hub—remains one of the happiest and most meaningful chapters of my life.

I remember the first time I met him when he came to Subic. I personally drove him around in my car. He was struck by the thousands of volunteers who had taken on the challenge of securing and reviving the area after the U.S. Navy's departure.

When we reached the airport, he asked me two questions: “Is China seeking hegemony in this region?” and “Can you rebuild the runway in one year?”

I stepped out of the car with him and introduced him to Felix Visey, a passionate volunteer and former CUBI Naval Air Station worker. I let Fred speak to him directly. After their conversation, Fred came back to me energized and simply said, “When and where do I sign on the dotted line?”

We were aligned in vision, determined in will, and swift in execution. And it happened. Fred Smith saw that he had found the right place and the right people—ordinary folks with extraordinary commitment—working within a Freeport zone legally crafted for bold ventures like this.

I still vividly recall the moment we signed the deal in New York in 1994. I grew emotional during my speech. President Fidel V. Ramos patted me on the back and asked, “Are you going to cry, Dick?” I could only reply, “All the volunteers, young and old, poured their hearts into bringing FedEx to Subic.”

FedEx was a game-changer—the biggest fish in the line. So much so that then-U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, John Negroponte, once asked me, “Dick, when are you going to reel that fish in?”

It was a proud day for all of us—volunteers and the nation—when the first FedEx plane landed at Subic Bay International Airport on April 30, 1995. I can say with pride: we built it. We negotiated the loan from the World Bank. We reinforced the runway with a full foot of concrete—originally built for Navy jets, now ready for FedEx’s massive, cargo-laden planes. We installed new radar systems, ILS, lighting and runway lights—everything—in under two years.

That day, I drove Fred Smith and President Ramos in my 1965 Ford Mustang convertible to witness the landing of that very first FedEx aircraft, signaling the start of full FedEx operations. We even climbed into the cockpit and posed for photographs. It was one of the proudest moments of my life.

A few years later, newly elected President Estrada signed his first administrative order removing me as chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). On Feb. 6, 2009, FedEx pulled out of Subic.

The night the last FedEx plane left Subic, I drove down from Manila just to wave it off—and cried again.

To me, it was never just about logistics or contracts. It was about building a new Philippines—a country that could finally do things right. It was a sincere effort to show what Filipinos can achieve when we work together. The FedEx story was a huge boost in national morale and reinforced my faith that the Philippines can prevail.

Fred Smith believed in Subic—and he humbly came over to see for himself. He understood the hard work, the tribulations, and the hope. He saw what we were capable of and stood with us.

I sincerely commiserate with the family of Fred Smith on his passing. In the years we hadn’t seen each other, I always hoped we’d meet again to relive the great memory that was Subic,

He will be sorely missed.

Fare thee well, Fred.