Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, November 01, 2023, Page 4, Image 4

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    Page 4
November 01, 2023
New PCC Athletics
Director Appointed
Broadous Celebrates NAACC Title
Continued from Front
induction into two Hall of Fames
(Grant High School and Port-
land Interscholastic League).
“I am absolutely delighted
for this opportunity,” Broadous
said. “As a native Portlander, I
take tremendous pride in being
able to represent not only this
incredible college, but the city
as well. With my extensive ex-
perience in sports, coaching, ad-
ministration, and guiding people
of all ages, I believe this is a
perfect fit.”
As head coach of men’s bas-
ketball, Broadous took a team
that had won once in two years
(2010-2012) out of a total of
47 games to become Northwest
Athletic Association of Com-
munity Colleges champions in
2014. He guided the team to a
23-9 record and a share of the
South Division title with a 10-4
league mark, earning co-coach
of the year accolades as a result.
The spark for the turnaround
began almost two years prior
when Broadous was announced
as the new head coach of the
men’s basketball team in 2012.
It was a homecoming for the
coach. A Jefferson High School
graduate, Broadous grew up
playing pickup games at the
Cascade Campus’ old gymnasi-
um. He served as the head coach
of nearby Grant High School for
10 years before coming to PCC,
earning the Portland Interscho-
lastic League Coach of the Year
award twice and leading the
team to the Oregon 6A champi-
onship in 2008.
Broadous is an alumnus of Jef-
ferson High School, Lane Com-
munity College and Oregon State
University. Upon joining PCC,
he embarked on a transformative
journey of not only the men’s
team but improving academic
excellence and athletic perfor-
mance, as well as adding men's
and women's soccer as new inter-
collegiate sports options.
“Tony is dedicated to both aca-
demic and athletic success," said
Josh Peters McBride, executive
dean of college operations. "His
commitment, knowledge, and
passion for student learning and
sport is evident. I’m thrilled to
continue working with Tony and
advancing the learning and lead-
ership of our student athletes. The
future has never been brighter for
Panther athletics.”
In his new role as director of
athletics, Broadous has ambitious
plans for the department. His vi-
sion includes expanding the array
of intercollegiate sports, enhanc-
ing facilities, and increasing stu-
dent tuition waiver amounts to
align with competing schools.
Broadous joining PCC came
largely as a result of a recom-
mendation by the late Harold
Williams, a PCC Board member
at the time representing North
Portland. At his press conference
in 2012, Williams said, “This
is a great step forward for PCC
athletics. I’ve known Tony for a
long time – he’s from this neigh-
borhood and he’s a great fit for
PCC basketball.”
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Joseph David Emerson, left, 44, was arraigned in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Oct. 24,
2023, in Portland, Ore. The former Alaska Airlines pilot who police say tried to cut the engines
while riding in the cockpit jump seat during a Horizon Air flight made his first appearance in federal
court in Portland on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP)
Pilot Accused of Attempted
Plane Engine Shutdown
The plane
was diverted
to Portland
(AP) -The wife of a former
Alaska Airlines pilot who pros-
ecutors say tried to cut the en-
gines of a Horizon Air flight
while riding in the cockpit jump
seat said she knew her husband
was struggling with depression
but that she was in a state of
shock over his arrest.
“This is not my Joe,” Sarah
Stretch told reporters after at-
tending her husband Joseph Em-
erson’s first appearance in federal
court in Portland, Oregon.
“He never would’ve done that.
He never would’ve knowing-
ly done any of that,” she added,
her voice quivering. “That is not
the man that I married.” Ethan
Levi, a defense attorney for Em-
erson, said that Emerson was
not suicidal or homicidal while
on board the Horizon Air flight.
“There was no intention to harm
himself or other people,” he said.
Levi added that Emerson wanted
to thank the flight crew for their
“timely and heroic actions.”
State and federal prosecutors
accused Emerson of trying to en-
gage an emergency fire suppres-
sion system while riding in the
cockpit jump seat as an off-duty
pilot on Horizon Air flight 2059
from Everett, Washington, to
San Francisco on Sunday. Af-
ter a brief struggle with the pi-
lots, he left the cockpit and was
placed in wrist restraints in the
back of the plane, according to
court documents.
The plane was diverted to
Portland, where it landed safe-
ly with more than 80 people on
board. Emerson has pleaded not
guilty to state charges of attempt-
ed murder. Federal prosecutors
meanwhile charged Emerson
with interfering with a flight
crew, which can carry up to 20
years in prison.
In charging documents, police
said Emerson told them he’d had
a nervous breakdown, had been
struggling with depression and
hadn’t slept for 40 hours. Emer-
son was cited in charging docu-
ments as saying a friend had re-
cently passed away. His defense
attorney Levi clarified Thursday
that his friend, who was a best
man at his wedding, actually
passed away about six years ago.
Emerson also said he had tak-
en psychedelic mushrooms for
the first time about 48 hours ear-
lier. The pilots and others who
encountered Emerson said he did
not appear intoxicated, according
to court documents.
The FBI affidavit said Emer-
son, who as an off-duty pilot was
authorized to ride in the cockpit’s
jump seat, made casual conversa-
tion with the captain and first of-
ficer when the plane was between
Astoria, Oregon, and Portland,
before trying to grab two red han-
dles that would have activated
the plane’s fire suppression sys-
tem and cut off fuel to its engines.
After what the flight crew
described as a struggle lasting
only about 30 seconds, Em-
erson left the cockpit, the FBI
said. Flight attendants placed
Emerson in wrist restraints and
seated him in the rear of the air-
craft, but as the plane descend-
ed, he tried to grab the handle
of an emergency exit, according
to the document. A flight atten-
dant stopped him by placing her
hands on top of his, it said.
Alaska Airlines said that Em-
erson had been relieved of all
duties. He last piloted a flight
on Oct. 19, the airline said,
three days before the Horizon
Air episode. The averted disas-
ter has renewed attention on the
mental fitness of those allowed
in the cockpit. Alaska Airlines
said Emerson met all require-
ments for medical exams “and
at no point were his certifica-
tions denied, suspended or re-
voked.” Emerson was to remain
in custody.