Exhibit 24.06


POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director and/or
officer of Kinark Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby
constitutes and appoints Paul R. Chastain the true and lawful agent and
attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with full power of substitution and
authority to sign for the undersigned, as Director or an officer of the
Company, or as both, the Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for the period ended
December 31, 1996, and any and all exhibits and amendments thereto to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; hereby
ratifying and confirming all acts taken by such agent and attorney-in-fact as
herein authorized.

                              DATED:  March 25, 1997.

                              /s/ Mark E. Walker 
                                   Mark E. Walker