<PAGE>   1
                                                               Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW 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, 1996 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 
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


October 11, 1996

                                                    /s/ THOMAS S. BLAIR
                                                    -------------------
                                                        Thomas S. Blair
<PAGE>   2
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW 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, 1996 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 
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


October 11, 1996

                                                    /s/ DAVID I. COHEN
                                                    -------------------
                                                        David I. Cohen
<PAGE>   3
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW 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, 1996 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 
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


October 11, 1996

                                                    /s/ ABE FARKAS
                                                    --------------
                                                        ABE FARKAS
<PAGE>   4
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW 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, 1996 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 
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


October 11, 1996

                                                    /s/ KAREN L. FARKAS
                                                    -------------------
                                                        Karen L. Farkas
<PAGE>   5
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW 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, 1996 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 
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


October 11, 1996

                                                    /s/ ROBERT W. KAMPMEINERT
                                                    -------------------------
                                                        Robert W. Kampmeinert
<PAGE>   6
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW 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, 1996 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 
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


October 11, 1996

                                                    /s/ DAVID C. O'LEARY
                                                    --------------------
                                                        David C. O'Leary
<PAGE>   7
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW 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, 1996 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 
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


October 11, 1996

                                                    /s/ HAROLD F. REED, JR.
                                                    -----------------------
                                                        Harold F. Reed, Jr.
<PAGE>   8
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW 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, 1996 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 
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


October 11, 1996

                                                    /s/ JAMES I. WALLOVER
                                                    ---------------------
                                                        James I. Wallover
<PAGE>   9
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW 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, 1996 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 
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


October 11, 1996

                                                    /s/ THOMAS P. WOOLAWAY
                                                    ----------------------
                                                        Thomas P. Woolaway