<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


              KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of
American Indemnity Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints J. Fellman Seinsheimer, III and
Phillip E. Apgar and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and on his
behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign,
execute and file any of the documents relating to the Company's Annual Report of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, together with all exhibits and any and all documents
required to be filed with respect thereto with any regulatory authority,
granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents
and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-facts and agents, or either
of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this
25th day of March, 1999.



                                                 /s/ WILLIAM C. LEVIN, M.D.    
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                   William C. Levin, M.D.



<PAGE>   2



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


              KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of
American Indemnity Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints J. Fellman Seinsheimer, III and
Phillip E. Apgar and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and on his
behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign,
execute and file any of the documents relating to the Company's Annual Report of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, together with all exhibits and any and all documents
required to be filed with respect thereto with any regulatory authority,
granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents
and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-facts and agents, or either
of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this
24th day of March, 1999.



                                                   /s/ HARRIS L. KEMPNER, JR. 
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                     Harris L. Kempner, Jr.



<PAGE>   3



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


              KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of
American Indemnity Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints J. Fellman Seinsheimer, III and
Phillip E. Apgar and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and on his
behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign,
execute and file any of the documents relating to the Company's Annual Report of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, together with all exhibits and any and all documents
required to be filed with respect thereto with any regulatory authority,
granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents
and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-facts and agents, or either
of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this
24th day of March, 1999.



                                                        /s/ MARVIN L. WEST    
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                          Marvin L. West



<PAGE>   4



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


              KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of
American Indemnity Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints J. Fellman Seinsheimer, III and
Phillip E. Apgar and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and on his
behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign,
execute and file any of the documents relating to the Company's Annual Report of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, together with all exhibits and any and all documents
required to be filed with respect thereto with any regulatory authority,
granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents
and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-facts and agents, or either
of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this
24th day of March, 1999.



                                                    /s/ HENRY W. HOPE     
                                             ---------------------------------
                                                      Henry W. Hope



<PAGE>   5



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


              KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of
American Indemnity Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints J. Fellman Seinsheimer, III and
Phillip E. Apgar and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and on his
behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign,
execute and file any of the documents relating to the Company's Annual Report of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, together with all exhibits and any and all documents
required to be filed with respect thereto with any regulatory authority,
granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents
and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-facts and agents, or either
of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this
24th day of March, 1999.



                                                     /s/ SYNOTT L. MC NEEL   
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                       Synott L. McNeel



<PAGE>   6



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


              KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of
American Indemnity Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints J. Fellman Seinsheimer, III and
Phillip E. Apgar and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and on his
behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign,
execute and file any of the documents relating to the Company's Annual Report of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, together with all exhibits and any and all documents
required to be filed with respect thereto with any regulatory authority,
granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents
and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-facts and agents, or either
of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this
24th day of March, 1999.



                                         /s/ JAMES W. MC FARLAND, PH.D.   
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                            James W. McFarland, Ph.D.



<PAGE>   7


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


              KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of
American Indemnity Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints J. Fellman Seinsheimer, III and
Phillip E. Apgar and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and on his
behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign,
execute and file any of the documents relating to the Company's Annual Report of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, together with all exhibits and any and all documents
required to be filed with respect thereto with any regulatory authority,
granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents
and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-facts and agents, or either
of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this
29th day of March, 1999.



                                                   /s/ FRED C. BURNS    
                                             ----------------------------
                                                     Fred C. Burns