After retiring, he expanded his leadership across the region, serving on boards for Lodi Unified School District, Delta College, the San Joaquin County Housing Authority, and the Family Resource Center. He has also taught as an Associate Professor at Skyline College and Delta College. In recognition of his decades of service, Lester recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Growing up in the Jim Crow South, Lester brings a powerful personal perspective to American history. His award-winning memoir, Weak Start Unapologetic Present, explores his experiences during segregation, the civil rights movement, military service abroad, and his career in advocacy and technology. His second book, Inspirational Moments, offers a six-week devotional study drawn from years of spiritual reflection, and his forthcoming book, Sin or Politics; You Decide, invites readers to consider the intersections of faith and civic life.