1 Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Tod R. Hamachek, Jeffrey T. Cook and each of them, severally as attorney-in-fact for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K of PENWEST, LTD. for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1996, and to file same and any amendments, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done virtue hereof. SIGNATURE DATE - --------- ---- /s/ Richard E. Engebrecht October 22, 1996 - ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Richard E. Engebrecht, Director /s/ Paul E. Freiman October 22, 1996 - ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Paul E. Freiman, Director /s/ Tod R. Hamachek October 22, 1996 - ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Tod R. Hamachek, Director /s/ Paul H. Hatfield October 22, 1996 - ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Paul H. Hatfield, Director /s/ Harry Mullikin October 22, 1996 - ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Harry Mullikin, Director /s/ Sally G. Narodick October 22, 1996 - ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Sally G. Narodick, Director /s/ William G. Parzybok, Jr. October 22, 1996 - ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- William G. Parzybok, Jr., Director /s/ N. Stewart Rogers October 22, 1996 - ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- N. Stewart Rogers, Director /s/ William K. Street October 22, 1996 - ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- William K. Street, Director Page 43