EXHIBIT 24

                               POWERS OF ATTORNEY



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/John H. McConnell
                                       _________________________________________
                                       John H. McConnell





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/John P. McConnell
                                       _________________________________________
                                       John P. McConnell





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/Donal H. Malenick
                                       _________________________________________
                                       Donal H. Malenick





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/Pete A. Klisares
                                       _________________________________________
                                       Pete A. Klisares





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/Donald G. Barger, Jr.
                                       _________________________________________
                                       Donald G. Barger, Jr.




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/William S. Dietrich
                                       _________________________________________
                                       William S. Dietrich





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/Charles D. Minor
                                       _________________________________________
                                       Charles D. Minor





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/Charles R. Carson
                                       _________________________________________
                                       Charles R. Carson





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/John E. Fisher
                                       _________________________________________
                                       John E. Fisher





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.

                                    /s/John F. Havens
                                       _________________________________________
                                       John F. Havens





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that the undersigned officer and/or director of
Worthington Industries,  Inc., a Delaware corporation,  which will file with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the provisions of
the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  a  Registration  Statement  (and/or
amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The  Worthington  Steel Company
(Malvern)  Union  Retirement  Savings  Plan and certain of its common  stock for
offering and sale in connection therewith, hereby constitutes and appoints Donal
H. Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him
and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign such
Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  granted 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  in and  about  the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/Katherine S. LeVeque
                                       _________________________________________
                                       Katherine S. LeVeque





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/Robert B. McCurry
                                       _________________________________________
                                       Robert B. McCurry





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/Gerald B. Mitchell
                                       _________________________________________
                                       Gerald B. Mitchell





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW  ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  officer  and/or
director of Worthington  Industries,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  which will
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a Registration  Statement
(and/or  amendments  thereto) on Form S-8 with respect to The Worthington  Steel
Company (Malvern) Union Retirement  Savings Plan and certain of its common stock
for offering and sale in connection  therewith,  hereby constitutes and appoints
Donal H.  Malenick,  Donald G. Barger,  Jr. and Dale T.  Brinkman,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power to act without the other,
for him and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign
such Registration  Statement and any or all amendments thereto,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted 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 in and about the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes  may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 15th
day of November, 1996.


                                    /s/James Petropoulos
                                       _________________________________________
                                       James Petropoulos