I am a journalist. I strive to remain fair, unbiased and impartial at all times. Occasionally, there are times when my career and my personal life briefly intersect, and burying the emotion of what is personal, is difficult as I report on what has become public. That was the case this week as I reported on the death of LDS Church President, Gordon B. Hinckley.

            President Gordon B. Hinckley was an extraordinary man and leader. With his passing, all who knew him whether it was personally, from his sermons, or his writings felt a deep sense of loss. I was among them.

            I had the opportunity to meet President Hinckley on three occasions. Each was memorable for me. On the first occasion, I was covering the return of the University of Utah basketball team. They were returning from their national championship game to a hero’s welcome, and a special parade in downtown Salt Lake City.

 I was gathering interviews along the parade route with my photographer, and in the process, I had also gathered three small University of Utah flags being waved by enthusiastic fans. Even though I graduated from BYU…they thought I should share in their joy. I had planned to take them home to my boys. While on the parade route, I received a frantic phone call from ABC 4. I was informed that President Hinckley, President Monson, and President Faust were, unexpectedly, on the steps of the administration building.  I was asked to run (literally because we had been dropped off by a news van and didn’t have a car) to the office building, and try to catch them on camera as the Ute’s float went by.  We ran four city blocks. They were still there, and the float had not yet passed by! I attempted to run up the steps to where the First Presidency stood and was quickly surrounded by very stern looking security officers. The commotion caused President Hinckley to look down, and our eyes met. It suddenly occurred to me that I had three flags, that there were three of them, and that they, as Ute alum, would want, and need them more than me.  I raised the flags in invitation. The President beckoned me up. He was genuinely grateful, and it was fun to see his enthusiasm in that moment. I gave the other two flags to President Monson, and President Faust, and only a moment later the Ute float carrying the honored basketball team passed by. The three stood together waving the flags and singing “A Utah Man Am I.” It was a joy to share that unique moment in time. President Hinckley then said a few words on camera about his pride in the team and their representation of Utah. 

            My second encounter with President Hinckley occurred the day his best seller “Standing for Something” was released. He called a press conference to talk about the book. I had been given an advance copy and read it the night before. I was struck that it was both simple and profound. During the interview I asked specific questions about the book. In particular, I remember asking him about his definition of the media “nattering nay bobs of negativity”. He answered the question candidly and with his notorious wit and humor. It was a tremendous opportunity to sit down with him in a room with only a handful of my colleagues from other media outlets. President Hinckley left the room following the interview. The other photographers and journalists had packed up their lights and already gone. My photographer was waiting for a light to cool so we could pack it away, so we remained. President Hinckley’s public relations officer popped his head in and asked if I had a moment. I told him that I did, and asked if there was something I could help him with. He said “The Prophet would like to see you in his office.”  My heart skipped a beat. I suppose I should have been full of joy, but for a brief moment I was very concerned that I had done something to offend him in some way. I responded with “Why??” I was assured that he had simply noticed that I had obviously read his book and he wanted to know what I thought of it. I was ushered into President Hinckley’s office. I was overwhelmed by that meeting, and it is one that I will forever remember. He was so humble, and genuine, and loving. The sparkle in his eyes was remarkable. I looked around at the trappings of his office. It was large, and comfortable, tidy, but also the office of a man who was very busy. Our meeting was short. He asked me what I thought of “Standing for Something” I told him it was timely, well written, and that it would be a best seller. I’m not good at predictions, but that time, I was right. We spent a few more minutes in personal conversation, and I left feeling that, for a brief moment, I had been touched by greatness.

            The last time I saw him in person he was with Marjorie. They were at Utah Valley State College and were receiving honorary degrees. I happened to be on the Board of Trustees for the college at that time.  I sat next to Marjorie during the ceremony. At one point, she kindly reached over, and gave my hand a squeeze. I remember wishing that I could be more like her and hoping that in my elderly years I would be as spry, kind, and intelligent. What a wonderful woman she was. What a perfect companion for him! He spoke that day, and was his usual witty and wise self…then she spoke and I remember thinking she was his equal in every respect. She may even have been more witty and humorous than him on that day. I remember looking on in awe of their relationship with one another. Their deep love was so apparent.

            These are just my small remembrances of a giant of a man. I shall miss him greatly along with so many of you. I will miss him personally for many reasons, but I will miss him professionally too, for his openness towards the media. I will miss his willingness to sit down with journalists, and candidly answer questions, whether it was nationally renowned journalist such as with Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes, Larry King of Larry King Live, or even me.