Alan served as a journalist for several years, and broke the original story on the rivalry between Branch Davidian prophets Roden and Vernon Howell (aka David Koresh) which culminated a few years later in the more famous shootout between the cult and the ATF in 1993. Alan then went to law school, made law review, and became a successful lawyer in civil litigation and remains an active member of the Texas State Bar and American Inns of Court. He also is a widely published writer and is a member of Poets and Writers.