He thought the headliners all brought down the house, but it was the personal accounts of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney that made an impression on Bigfork Rep. Scott Reichner, one of Montana’s delegates at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.

Reichner, who serves as Romney’s Montana campaign chairman, was in Tampa with his wife, Jill, and his daughter, Eliza, along with fellow Flathead residents Mark Noland and Don Kaldschmidt and his wife, Debbie. They were among 52 Montana delegates or alternative delegates attending the three-day convention.

“It was an energizing time. We were fired up going down there, but today, we are feeling inspired and motivated,” Reichner said on Friday. “We can’t wait to help Mitt and get him elected to office in November.”

Reichner said the stars of the convention came through as expected, but he was somewhat surprised and impressed by speakers he had never heard of.

“Clearly, Anne Romney, Mitt Romney, Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, they all brought the house down,” Reichner said. “The speakers yesterday that were really touching, that really pierced your heart, were the ones who talked passionately and sincerely about what Mitt had done for them.”

The speakers were former business associates, fellow clergy in the Mormon church and church members whom Romney impacted as an unpaid lay clergy member of the church.

“They showed a very personal side of him and what he had done for them ... He does it in a very soft, quiet way, but he is very committed,” Reichner said, citing as an example a couple who described how Romney helped their son who was dying of cancer.

They said Romney took the time to write a will that distributed the boy’s prized possessions to his friends.

Reichner said Romney’s competence in the business world also came across strongly at the convention.

 “He’s worked closely with a lot of people who have been very successful. He’s a true business guy, and that’s who we need,” Reichner said. “His background is fixing things that are in dire financial straits. It’s the perfect time for him to be president of the United States.”

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.