Mr. McAlester was born in Dallas and graduated from Woodrow Wilson high school. He served as a field medic during the Vietnam War. After he returned from service, he spent many years as a devoted worker in the research room of the downtown public library, until illness forced his retirement.
Mr. McAlester was preceded in death by his wife, Theresa, and he is survived by his sons, Andrew Lee McAlester, a lawyer in Oklahoma City, and Ken Kneisel, an artist in San Francisco. Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. today, April 19, at Grove Hill Cemetery.
