"This key represents our gratitude, our admiration and our enduring respect ...," Memphis Mayor Paul Young said during an event honoring Fred Smith.

FedEx is honoring its late founder, Fred Smith, with a celebration of life event at FedExForum in Memphis on what would have been his 81st birthday.

Thousands filed into the FedEx Forum Monday to honor the man many called the most influential person in Memphis, FedEx Founder Fred Smith. Smith died June 21 at age 80. “He was a part of so much. I mean,