User:Barkeep49/Eldridge Broussard

Eldridge Broussard (Birth day - September 5, 1991) was the leader of the Ecclesia Athletic Association.

Broussard publicly denied the label, including in 1984 and in a 1988 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. While on Oprah he declined to explain himself after claiming he'd never had the opportunity to do so, drawing boos from the audience. Blamed the death on the media.

"Bob Allord, then the basketball coach at Pacific, defended his charge as ``a well-adjusted individual '' whom he chose to accompany him on basketball clinics for youths around the state." Strong religious convictions. Strong competitive desire. ``He'd play one-on-one with new recruits and pretty much shut them down. '' Didn't drink. Enthusiastic and liked by teammates. While playing in the NAIA Championship game, Pacifica was up with a minute to go. Rather than holding the ball for certain victory, Broussard drove to the hoop hoping to "rub the win in". After missing the lay-up and the two free throws after he was fouled Pacifica lost. Following the game Broussard seemed alright while his teammates were upset about the loss.

Beaten by his father.

Eldridge Broussard Jr. was the leader of the Ecclesia Athletic Association. After playing basketball in college, he would found first the Watts Christian Center and then the Ecclesisa Athletic Association (EAA). The EAA faced scrutiny following the death of Broussard's six year-old daughter after she had been whipped and punished. When he died at the age of 38, he was facing charges of of enslaving 29 children who were members of his organization.

Early life
Broussard was the son of a Pentecostal preacher in Los Angeles, California.

In the 1970s, he played basketball for Pacific University in Oregon.

Broussard founded the Watts Christian Center, which evolved into the Ecclesia Athletic Association, in the 1970s. The center functioned as a commune.

Legal trouble
Broussard stated that the media was to blame for his daughter's death and for the dissolution of his organization.

Death
Broussard was found dead in his home in Sandy, Oregon.