<PAGE>   1

                                                                      Exhibit 24


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         NOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints John P. O'Leary, Jr. and Brian C. Mullins, and each of them, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999 of Tuscarora Incorporated,
and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person and hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof



October 18, 1999                             /s/ Thomas S. Blair
                                             -----------------------------
                                                 Thomas S. Blair





<PAGE>   2


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         NOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints John P. O'Leary, Jr. and Brian C. Mullins, and each of them, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999 of Tuscarora Incorporated,
and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person and hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof



October 18, 1999                             /s/ David I. Cohen
                                             -----------------------------
                                                 David I. Cohen




<PAGE>   3

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         NOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints John P. O'Leary, Jr. and Brian C. Mullins, and each of them, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999 of Tuscarora Incorporated,
and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person and hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof



October 18, 1999                             /s/ Abe Farkas
                                             -----------------------------
                                                 Abe Farkas





<PAGE>   4

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         NOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints John P. O'Leary, Jr. and Brian C. Mullins, and each of them, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999 of Tuscarora Incorporated,
and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person and hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof



October 18, 1999                             /s/ Karen L. Farkas
                                             -----------------------------
                                                 Karen L. Farkas


<PAGE>   5

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         NOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints John P. O'Leary, Jr. and Brian C. Mullins, and each of them, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999 of Tuscarora Incorporated,
and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person and hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof



October 18, 1999                             /s/ Robert W. Kampmeinert
                                             -----------------------------
                                                 Robert W. Kampmeinert


<PAGE>   6


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         NOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints John P. O'Leary, Jr. and Brian C. Mullins, and each of them, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999 of Tuscarora Incorporated,
and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person and hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof



October 18, 1999                             /s/ Jeffrey L. Leininger
                                             -----------------------------
                                                 Jeffrey L. Leininger


<PAGE>   7

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         NOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints John P. O'Leary, Jr. and Brian C. Mullins, and each of them, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999 of Tuscarora Incorporated,
and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person and hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof



October 18, 1999                             /s/ David C. O'Leary
                                             -----------------------------
                                                 David C. O'Leary





<PAGE>   8



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         NOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints John P. O'Leary, Jr. and Brian C. Mullins, and each of them, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999 of Tuscarora Incorporated,
and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person and hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof



October 18, 1999                             /s/ Harold F. Reed, Jr.
                                             -----------------------------
                                                 Harold F. Reed, Jr.




<PAGE>   9


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         NOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints John P. O'Leary, Jr. and Brian C. Mullins, and each of them, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999 of Tuscarora Incorporated,
and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person and hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof



October 18, 1999                             /s/ Thomas P. Woolaway
                                             -----------------------------
                                                 Thomas P. Woolaway