Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints C. L. Whitehill, Joe R. Lee and Clarence Otis, Jr., and each of them,
his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form
S-8 relating to the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan and
any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the Registration
Statement, 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 in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as
might or could be done in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/Joe R. Lee Director, Chairman of the Board and December 3, 1998
- ------------------------------- Chief Executive Officer
Joe R. Lee
/s/Clarence Otis, Jr. Senior Vice President-Finance and Treasurer December 3, 1998
- -------------------------------
Clarence Otis, Jr.
/s/Linda J. Dimopoulos Senior Vice President-Corporate Controller December 2, 1998
- ------------------------------- and Business Information Systems
Linda J. Dimopoulos
/s/H. B. Atwater Director December 8, 1998
- -------------------------------
H. B. Atwater
/s/Bradley D. Blum Director December 10, 1998
- -------------------------------
Bradley D. Blum
/s/Daniel B. Burke Director December 3, 1998
- -------------------------------
Daniel B. Burke
/s/Odie C. Donald Director December 1, 1998
- -------------------------------
Odie C. Donald
/s/Richard E. Rivera Director December 4, 1998
- -------------------------------
Richard E. Rivera
/s/Michael D. Rose Director December 1, 1998
- -------------------------------
Michael D. Rose
/s/Maria A. Sastre Director December 8, 1998
- -------------------------------
Maria A. Sastre
/s/Jack A. Smith Director December 4, 1998
- -------------------------------
Jack A. Smith
/s/Blaine Sweatt, III Director December 7, 1998
- -------------------------------
Blaine Sweatt, III