A Memphis native, who helped break barriers at FedEx Corp. by becoming the company’s first Black aircraft mechanic, recently passed away.
James Coopwood, 78, died on July 8. A celebration of life for Coopwood was held on July 24 at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Germantown.
Richard Smith, who currently serves as chief operating officer and chief executive officer at FedEx, said in a statement July 24 to the Commercial Appeal, Coopwood left a "legacy at FedEx." Smith posted in his LinkedIn account that Coopwood was a true pioneer, trailblazer and foundational pillar of the company."
Smith: Standing 'alongside my father'
Coopwood joined the company on April 15, 1973, two days before FedEx’s first
night of operations, according to a post by Smith on LinkedIn. Coopwood ended up having a more than 30-year career as a technician at FedEx.
"James Coopwood was a true cornerstone of FedEx, joining us just days before our historic launch in 1973 and standing on the ramp alongside my father to help send off our very first packages," Smith said in the statement to the Commercial Appeal. "As our first Black Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT), James brought an exceptional level of technical skill and dedication to our hangars, perfectly reflecting our founder’s ultimate goal of uniting the industry's most talented and diverse minds. Our hearts go out to the Coopwood family as we mourn his passing and celebrate his extraordinary life and service.”
Smith posted on LinkedIn he was able to spend time with Coopwood at the 2024 Organization for Black Aerospace Professionals gala in Memphis. A video tribute during the event was showed to honor Coopwood’s impact on aviation. Coopwood, who was also a U.S. Air Force veteran, said in the video when he started at FedEx that he would travel back and forth from Memphis to Little Rock, Arkansas getting the Falcons planes ready to carry mail.
On its first night of operations — April 17, 1973 — FedEx shipped 186 packages to 25 U.S. cities via 14 Dassault Falcon jets.
Coopwood found out that it was a whole different world working on commercial planes compared to working on planes in the Air Force.
“It was something that everybody had to get used to because nobody hired at FedEx had any experience on those Falcons,” Coopwood said in the video. “But I never stopped because I had a drive, and my drive been in me ever since I was in high school. If I start something, I was going to finish it.”
Coopwood kept making a difference at FedEx. He also became the first Black supervisor in aircraft maintenance for FedEx.
“There was a position that came open, and I was asked, ‘if I would like to have that position,’” Coopwood said in the video. “I had to think about that for a little while because it came with a lot of responsibility. It was a challenge, and I took it. I had my ups and downs, but I stood it out.”
Smith posted that Coopwood's greatest impact was the doors he opened for others. He said when employees working in entry level positions thought skilled positions in the aviation industry were out of reach, Coopwood wanted to help them know those positions were attainable.
"He put his words into action by starting the very first FedEx Apprentice AMT program, mentoring and guiding countless individuals into the industry," Smith said on LinkedIn.
Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: FedEx's first Black aircraft mechanic, James Coopwood, has died
