Calkins: Nobody can replace Fred Smith. (But he told us how to handle this, too.)
Fred Smith not only helped Memphis, he transformed it. Smith is introduced at the National Civil Rights Museum 2022 Freedom Award Oct. 20, 2022. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)
Geoff Calkins
Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. He is host of "The Geoff Calkins Show" from 9-11 a.m. M-F on 92.9 FM. Calkins has been named the best sports columnist in the country five times by the Associated Press sports editors, but still figures his best columns are about the people who make Memphis what it is.
The University of Memphis, the Grizzlies and the city of Memphis found themselves in a difficult spot.
The state had come through with $350 million to renovate FedExForum and Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. But the state didn’t dictate how the money should be divided.
The university pressed to get its share of the money. People in Memphis started to take sides. The whole thing was getting contentious.
So Fred Smith and his son, Richard Smith, set up a meeting with Bill Hardgrave, the president of the university.
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Fred Smith University of Memphis Memphis Grizzlies basketball FedExForum Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium Subscriber OnlyWill you help us reach more Memphians with quality, in-depth local news?
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