<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL 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 all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997 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 10, 1997

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


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL 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 all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997 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 10, 1997

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


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL 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 all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997 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 10, 1997

                                                  /s/ ABE FARKAS     
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                      Abe Farkas      
<PAGE>   4


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL 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 all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997 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 10, 1997

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


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL 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 all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997 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 10, 1997

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


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL 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 all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997 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 10, 1997

                                                  /s/ JEFFERY L. LEININGER
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                      Jeffery L. Leininger
<PAGE>   7


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL 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 all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997 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 10, 1997

                                                  /s/ DAVID C. O'LEARY
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                      David C. O'Leary
<PAGE>   8


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL 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 all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997 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 10, 1997

                                                  /s/ HAROLD F. REED, JR.
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                      Harold F. Reed, Jr.
<PAGE>   9


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL 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 all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997 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 10, 1997

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