<PAGE>   1

                                                               CENTEX EXHIBIT 24


                               CENTEX CORPORATION

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         THE UNDERSIGNED hereby constitutes and appoints Laurence E. Hirsch and
David W. Quinn, or either of such individuals, with full power of substitution
in the premises, as the undersigned's true and lawful agents and
attorneys-in-fact (the "Attorneys-in-Fact"), with full power and authority in
the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in his capacity as a Director of
Centex Corporation (the "Company"), to execute and file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 registering
the issuance and sale of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock,
together with any and all amendments thereto.

         This Power of Attorney and all authority granted and conferred hereby
shall continue indefinitely and, unless waived by the Attorneys-in-Fact, may not
be revoked until the Attorneys-in-Fact have received five days' written notice
of such revocation.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 21st day of May, 1998.


                                             /s/ DAN W. COOK III
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Dan W. Cook III
                                             Director
                                             Centex Corporation



<PAGE>   2

                                                               CENTEX EXHIBIT 24


                               CENTEX CORPORATION

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         THE UNDERSIGNED hereby constitutes and appoints Laurence E. Hirsch and
David W. Quinn, or either of such individuals, with full power of substitution
in the premises, as the undersigned's true and lawful agents and
attorneys-in-fact (the "Attorneys-in-Fact"), with full power and authority in
the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in his capacity as a Director of
Centex Corporation (the "Company"), to execute and file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 registering
the issuance and sale of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock,
together with any and all amendments thereto.

         This Power of Attorney and all authority granted and conferred hereby
shall continue indefinitely and, unless waived by the Attorneys-in-Fact, may not
be revoked until the Attorneys-in-Fact have received five days' written notice
of such revocation.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 21st day of May, 1998.


                                             /s/ ALAN B. COLEMAN
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Alan B. Coleman
                                             Director
                                             Centex Corporation


<PAGE>   3

                                                               CENTEX EXHIBIT 24


                               CENTEX CORPORATION

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         THE UNDERSIGNED hereby constitutes and appoints Laurence E. Hirsch and
David W. Quinn, or either of such individuals, with full power of substitution
in the premises, as the undersigned's true and lawful agents and
attorneys-in-fact (the "Attorneys-in-Fact"), with full power and authority in
the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in his capacity as a Director of
Centex Corporation (the "Company"), to execute and file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 registering
the issuance and sale of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock,
together with any and all amendments thereto.

         This Power of Attorney and all authority granted and conferred hereby
shall continue indefinitely and, unless waived by the Attorneys-in-Fact, may not
be revoked until the Attorneys-in-Fact have received five days' written notice
of such revocation.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 21st day of May, 1998.



                                             /s/ CLINT W. MURCHISON, III
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Clint W. Murchison, III
                                             Director
                                             Centex Corporation



<PAGE>   4

                                                               CENTEX EXHIBIT 24


                               CENTEX CORPORATION

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         THE UNDERSIGNED hereby constitutes and appoints Laurence E. Hirsch and
David W. Quinn, or either of such individuals, with full power of substitution
in the premises, as the undersigned's true and lawful agents and
attorneys-in-fact (the "Attorneys-in-Fact"), with full power and authority in
the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in his capacity as a Director of
Centex Corporation (the "Company"), to execute and file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 registering
the issuance and sale of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock,
together with any and all amendments thereto.

         This Power of Attorney and all authority granted and conferred hereby
shall continue indefinitely and, unless waived by the Attorneys-in-Fact, may not
be revoked until the Attorneys-in-Fact have received five days' written notice
of such revocation.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 21st day of May, 1998.



                                             /s/ CHARELS H. PISTOR
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Charles H. Pistor
                                             Director
                                             Centex Corporation



<PAGE>   5

                                                               CENTEX EXHIBIT 24


                               CENTEX CORPORATION

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         THE UNDERSIGNED hereby constitutes and appoints Laurence E. Hirsch and
David W. Quinn, or either of such individuals, with full power of substitution
in the premises, as the undersigned's true and lawful agents and
attorneys-in-fact (the "Attorneys-in-Fact"), with full power and authority in
the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in his capacity as a Director of
Centex Corporation (the "Company"), to execute and file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 registering
the issuance and sale of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock,
together with any and all amendments thereto.

         This Power of Attorney and all authority granted and conferred hereby
shall continue indefinitely and, unless waived by the Attorneys-in-Fact, may not
be revoked until the Attorneys-in-Fact have received five days' written notice
of such revocation.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 21st day of May, 1998.




                                             /s/ PAUL R. SEEGERS
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Paul R. Seegers
                                             Director
                                             Centex Corporation



<PAGE>   6

                                                               CENTEX EXHIBIT 24


                               CENTEX CORPORATION

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         THE UNDERSIGNED hereby constitutes and appoints Laurence E. Hirsch and
David W. Quinn, or either of such individuals, with full power of substitution
in the premises, as the undersigned's true and lawful agents and
attorneys-in-fact (the "Attorneys-in-Fact"), with full power and authority in
the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in his capacity as a Director of
Centex Corporation (the "Company"), to execute and file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 registering
the issuance and sale of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock,
together with any and all amendments thereto.

         This Power of Attorney and all authority granted and conferred hereby
shall continue indefinitely and, unless waived by the Attorneys-in-Fact, may not
be revoked until the Attorneys-in-Fact have received five days' written notice
of such revocation.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 21st day of May, 1998.




                                             /s/ PAUL T. STOFFEL
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Paul T. Stoffel
                                             Director
                                             Centex Corporation