Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, while heading the Salt Lake Olympics, remembers being impressed with President Hinckley's knowledge of details.

"We asked for the ability to use a city block, which the church owned, which had four parking lots on it ... for us to level the parking lot and turn it into a plaza for the medals ceremony.

"It would seat, as I recall, approximately 10,000 people and another 10,000 would be standing and he turned to the other counselors that were there of his and said, 'Aren't the sewer pipes too close to the surface on that lot for them to be able to level it?' He literally was aware of ... the sewer system for that lot well enough to recognize that was an issue."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said President Hinckley led a remarkable life.

"His faith and leadership have inspired countless lives throughout the world. He leaves a deeply rooted legacy on our religion through his teachings and his lifetime of service to the church."

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E-mail: romboy@desnews.com

Contributing: Bob Bernick Jr. and Nicole Warburton