EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Brock Hattox and Kenyon W. Murphy, and each of them individually, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact (with full power of substitution and resubstitution) to act for him in his name, place, and stead in his capacity as a director or officer of National Service Industries, Inc., to file a registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, and any and all amendments thereto, with any exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them individually, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. /s/ James S. Balloun James S. Balloun President and Chief Executive Officer, and Director /s/ Brock Hattox Brock Hattox Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer /s/ Kenyon W. Murphy Kenyon W. Murphy Senior Vice President and General Counsel /s/ Robert R. Burchfield Robert R. Burchfield Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) Dated: November 29, 2001 EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Brock Hattox and Kenyon W. Murphy, and each of them individually, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact (with full power of substitution and resubstitution) to act for him in his name, place, and stead in his capacity as a director or officer of National Service Industries, Inc., to file a registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, and any and all amendments thereto, with any exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them individually, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. /s/ John L. Clendenin ------------------------ John L. Clendenin Dated: November 29, 2001 EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Brock Hattox and Kenyon W. Murphy, and each of them individually, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact (with full power of substitution and resubstitution) to act for him in his name, place, and stead in his capacity as a director or officer of National Service Industries, Inc., to file a registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, and any and all amendments thereto, with any exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them individually, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. /s/ Thomas C. Gallagher -------------------------- Thomas C. Gallagher Dated: November 29, 2001 EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Brock Hattox and Kenyon W. Murphy, and each of them individually, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact (with full power of substitution and resubstitution) to act for him in his name, place, and stead in his capacity as a director or officer of National Service Industries, Inc., to file a registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, and any and all amendments thereto, with any exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them individually, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. /s/ Neil Williams ----------------------------------- Neil Williams Dated: November 29, 2001 EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Brock Hattox and Kenyon W. Murphy, and each of them individually, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact (with full power of substitution and resubstitution) to act for him in his name, place, and stead in his capacity as a director or officer of National Service Industries, Inc., to file a registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, and any and all amendments thereto, with any exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them individually, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. /s/ Roy Richards, Jr. --------------------- Roy Richards, Jr. Dated: November 29, 2001 EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Brock Hattox and Kenyon W. Murphy, and each of them individually, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact (with full power of substitution and resubstitution) to act for him in his name, place, and stead in his capacity as a director or officer of National Service Industries, Inc., to file a registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, and any and all amendments thereto, with any exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them individually, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. /s/ L.M. Baker, Jr. ------------------- L.M. Baker, Jr. Dated: November 29, 2001 EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Brock Hattox and Kenyon W. Murphy, and each of them individually, her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact (with full power of substitution and resubstitution) to act for her in her name, place, and stead in her capacity as a director or officer of National Service Industries, Inc., to file a registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, and any and all amendments thereto, with any exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them individually, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. /s/ Betty L. Siegel ------------------------------ Betty L. Siegel Dated: November 29, 2001 EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Brock Hattox and Kenyon W. Murphy, and each of them individually, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact (with full power of substitution and resubstitution) to act for him in his name, place, and stead in his capacity as a director or officer of National Service Industries, Inc., to file a registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, and any and all amendments thereto, with any exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them individually, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. /s/ Ray M. Robinson --------------------------- Ray M. Robinson Dated: November 29, 2001 EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Brock Hattox and Kenyon W. Murphy, and each of them individually, her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact (with full power of substitution and resubstitution) to act for her in her name, place, and stead in her capacity as a director or officer of National Service Industries, Inc., to file a registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, and any and all amendments thereto, with any exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them individually, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. /s/ Kathy Brittain White ------------------------------ Kathy Brittain White Dated: November 29, 2001 EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Brock Hattox and Kenyon W. Murphy, and each of them individually, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact (with full power of substitution and resubstitution) to act for him in his name, place, and stead in his capacity as a director or officer of National Service Industries, Inc., to file a registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, and any and all amendments thereto, with any exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them individually, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. /s/ Peter C. Browning ---------------------------- Peter C. Browning Dated: November 29, 2001