A memorial service for House Speaker Ben Lujan has drawn hundreds of politicians of all stripes to the state Capitol.
About 400 people honored the 77-year-old who died of lung cancer on Dec. 18 during Thursday's service in the Capitol rotunda. The Democrat from Lambe announced early this year this term would be his last after serving in the Legislature since winning his first election in 1974.
Former Gov. Bill Richardson called Lujan a small, gentle guy, but a political giant.
A second visitation and rosary will be held at Friday evening in Pojoaque. A funeral Mass is set for 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe, with interment to follow at Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Cemetery in Nambe.
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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.