Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx and a former part-owner of the Washington Commanders, died Saturday.

FedEx, which announced Smith’s death on Sunday morning, did not specify a cause of death. The commerce billionaire was 80 years old.

In the D.C. region, Smith was best known as a part-owner of the Washington Commanders, then known as the Redskins and Washington Football Team, from 2003 through 2021. The Marine veteran was one of three minority owners who owned a combined 40% of the team under controlling owner Dan Snyder.

“Mr. Smith was a highly respected philanthropist and innovative businessman whose investments once included a minority stake in our team,” the Commanders said in a statement. “He also proudly served our country in the U.S. Marine Corps.”

Smith’s company, which he ran until 2022, also held the naming rights to the team’s stadium in Landover, Maryland, until last year.

Snyder bought out his co-owners in 2021 amid growing frustration within the ownership groups, according to multiple reports. FedEx issued a statement in 2020 directly asking Snyder to abandon the franchise’s “Redskins” moniker. Snyder eventually complied amid mounting public pressure.

Smith was also the father of former Atlanta Falcons head coach and current Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.