Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Crockett Alan C
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
08/31/2005
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FREDS INC [FRED]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
4300 NEW GETWELL ROAD
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Vice President
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

MEMPHIS, TN 38118
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Option on Class A Common Stock 11/12/2005(1) 05/12/2011 Class A Common Stock 3,500 $ 17.67 D  
Option on Class A Common Stock 09/08/2005(1) 09/08/2011 Class A Common Stock 2,500 $ 14.6 D  
Option on Class A Common Stock 06/09/2006(2) 06/09/2012 Class A Common Stock 3,000 $ 15.37 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Crockett Alan C
4300 NEW GETWELL ROAD
MEMPHIS, TN 38118
      Vice President  

Signatures

Alan Crockett 08/31/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Vesting 10% each anniversary date until 2009 at which time the remaining 60% vest.
(2) Vesting 10% each anniversary date until 2010 at which time the remaining 60% vest.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.