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                                                                      EXHIBIT 24


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each of the undersigned directors and officers of J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC., a
Delaware corporation ("Company"), which will file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. ("Commission"), under the provisions of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the 52 weeks ended January 29, 2000 ("Annual Report"), hereby constitutes
and appoints W. J. Alcorn, C. R. Lotter, and D. A. McKay, and each of them, his
or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to each of
them to act without the others, for him or her and in his or her name, place,
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report, which is about
to be filed, and any and all subsequent amendments to such Annual Report, and to
file such Annual Report so signed, with all exhibits thereto, and any and all
documents in connection therewith, and any and all subsequent amendments to such
Annual Report, and to appear before the Commission in connection with any matter
relating to such Annual Report, hereby granting to the attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all
acts and things requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as
fully and to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Power of Attorney as of
the 8th day of March, 2000.



/s/ J. E. OESTERREICHER                          /s/ D. A. MCKAY
-------------------------------                 -------------------------------
J. E. Oesterreicher                              D. A. McKay
Chairman of the Board and                        Executive Vice President and
Chief Executive Officer                          Chief Financial Officer
(principal executive officer);                   (principal financial officer)
Director



/s/ W. J. ALCORN
-------------------------------
W. J. Alcorn
Vice President and Controller
(principal accounting officer)


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/s/ M. A. BURNS                                 /s/ T. J. ENGIBOUS
-------------------------------                 -------------------------------
M. A. Burns                                     T. J. Engibous
Director                                        Director


/s/ K. B. FOSTER                                /s/ V. E. JORDAN, JR.
-------------------------------                 -------------------------------
K. B. Foster                                    V. E. Jordan, Jr.
Director                                        Director


/s/ J. C. PFEIFFER                              /s/ A. W. RICHARDS
-------------------------------                 -------------------------------
J. C. Pfeiffer                                  A. W. Richards
Director                                        Director


/s/ FRANCISCO SANCHEZ-LOAEZA                    /s/ C. S. SANFORD, JR.
-------------------------------                 -------------------------------
Francisco Sanchez-Loaeza                        C. S. Sanford, Jr.
Director                                        Director


/s/ R. G. TURNER
-------------------------------
R. G. Turner
Director