NICOR Inc.
                                                    Form S-8
                                                    Exhibit 24.01




                        POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

          That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director
and Officer of NICOR Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby
constitute and appoint D. L. CYRANOSKI and M. T. LORENZ, and each
of them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys and agents,
each with full power and authority (acting alone and without the
other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, a Registration
Statement (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be
necessary) under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to the
issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the
NICOR Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of
substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed this Power
of Attorney this 17th day of April, 1997.


                                      ROBERT M. BEAVERS, JR.     
                                      Robert M. Beavers, Jr.



                        POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

          That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director
and Officer of NICOR Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby
constitute and appoint D. L. CYRANOSKI and M. T. LORENZ, and each
of them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys and agents,
each with full power and authority (acting alone and without the
other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, a Registration
Statement (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be
necessary) under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to the
issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the
NICOR Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of
substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed this Power
of Attorney this 17th day of April, 1997.


                                      BRUCE P. BICKNER      
                                      Bruce P. Bickner



                       POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

          That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director
and Officer of NICOR Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby
constitute and appoint D. L. CYRANOSKI and M. T. LORENZ, and each
of them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys and agents,
each with full power and authority (acting alone and without the
other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, a Registration
Statement (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be
necessary) under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to the
issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the
NICOR Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of
substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed this Power
of Attorney this 17th day of April, 1997.


                                           W. H. CLARK           
                                           W. H. Clark     



                       POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

          That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director
and Officer of NICOR Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby
constitute and appoint D. L. CYRANOSKI and M. T. LORENZ, and each
of them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys and agents,
each with full power and authority (acting alone and without the
other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, a Registration
Statement (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be
necessary) under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to the
issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the
NICOR Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of
substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed this Power
of Attorney this 17th day of April, 1997.


                                          JOHN E. JONES          
                                          John E. Jones     



                       POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

          That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director
and Officer of NICOR Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby
constitute and appoint D. L. CYRANOSKI and M. T. LORENZ, and each
of them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys and agents,
each with full power and authority (acting alone and without the
other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, a Registration
Statement (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be
necessary) under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to the
issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the
NICOR Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of
substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed this Power
of Attorney this 17th day of April, 1997.


                                       DENNIS J. KELLER       
                                       Dennis J. Keller    



                       POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

          That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director
and Officer of NICOR Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby
constitute and appoint D. L. CYRANOSKI and M. T. LORENZ, and each
of them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys and agents,
each with full power and authority (acting alone and without the
other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, a Registration
Statement (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be
necessary) under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to the
issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the
NICOR Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of
substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed this Power
of Attorney this 17th day of April, 1997.


                                            CHARLES S. LOCKE       
                                            Charles S. Locke     




                       POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

          That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director
and Officer of NICOR Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby
constitute and appoint D. L. CYRANOSKI and M. T. LORENZ, and each
of them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys and agents,
each with full power and authority (acting alone and without the
other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, a Registration
Statement (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be
necessary) under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to the
issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the
NICOR Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of
substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed this Power
of Attorney this 17th day of April, 1997.


                                         SIDNEY R. PETERSEN    
                                         Sidney R. Petersen    



                       POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

          That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director
and Officer of NICOR Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby
constitute and appoint D. L. CYRANOSKI and M. T. LORENZ, and each
of them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys and agents,
each with full power and authority (acting alone and without the
other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, a Registration
Statement (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be
necessary) under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to the
issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the
NICOR Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of
substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed this Power
of Attorney this 17th day of April, 1997.


                                         DANIEL R. TOLL         
                                         Daniel R. Toll    



                        POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

          That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director
and Officer of NICOR Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby
constitute and appoint D. L. CYRANOSKI and M. T. LORENZ, and each
of them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys and agents,
each with full power and authority (acting alone and without the
other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, a Registration
Statement (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be
necessary) under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to the
issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the
NICOR Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of
substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed this Power
of Attorney this 17th day of April, 1997.


                                     PATRICIA A. WIER     
                                     Patricia A. Wier