Alan Sims Gaynor was born Alan Sims Guckenheimer on 11 October 1928 in Savannah, Georgia, to Dora Gittlesohn and Sims Guckenheimer. Both of his parents were native Georgians and they resided at 811 Whitaker Street at the time of Alan's birth. When Alan was six, his parents move to New York, Kansas City, Chicago, and finally back to New York. In 1946, he entered the University of Virginia and earned an undergraduate degree in biology and his law degree. He then served in the U.S. Air Force as a JAG officer stationed in Goose Bay, Labrador and attained the rank of Captain. After his discharge from the U.S. Air Force in 1954, Alan returned to Savannah to begin his law practice with the firm Bouhan, Williams and Levy. During his 52-year legal career, he was elected Chair of the State Bar of Georgia's section on corporate banking law, President of the Savannah Bar Association, and served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1966 to 1972. Alan is responsible for introducing legislation that all University of Georgia bulldog mascots would be descendants of the original bulldog, Uga. Alan was a Paul Harris Fellow, a Will Watt Fellow, and a Hue Thomas Fellow. He served on several Savannah boards including the Georgia Historical Society, Telfair Academy, Goodwill Industries, Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, Rotary Club, United Way, and Savannah Civil Service Board. Alan was an Eagle Scout and served eighteen years as Scoutmaster of Troop 12 sponsored by First Presbyterian Church. Alan attended Congregation Mickve Israel where he served as Museum Curator and docent. He died on 22 August 2010 of a heart attack.
From the description of Alan S. Gaynor papers, 1925-1976. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 754239930
