1 Page 48 Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints David Levy and Brock Hattox, 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, 1997, 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, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Director /s/ Brock Hattox ----------------------------------------- Brock Hattox, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer /s/ Mark R. Bachmann ----------------------------------------- Mark R. Bachmann, Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) /s/ David Levy ------------------------------------------ David Levy, Executive Vice President, Administration and Counsel, and Director Dated: November 17, 1997 2 Page 49 Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints David Levy and Brock Hattox, 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, 1997, 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 17, 1997 3 Page 50 Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints David Levy and Brock Hattox, 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, 1997, 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 17, 1997 4 Page 51 Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints David Levy and Brock Hattox, 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, 1997, 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/ Robert M. Holder, Jr. --------------------------------- Robert M. Holder, Jr. Dated: November 17, 1997 5 Page 52 Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints David Levy and Brock Hattox, 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, 1997, 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 C. Kennedy --------------------------------- James C. Kennedy Dated: November 17, 1997 6 Page 53 Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints David Levy and Brock Hattox, 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, 1997, 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/ Bernard Marcus --------------------------------- Bernard Marcus Dated: November 17, 1997 7 Page 54 Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints David Levy and Brock Hattox, 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, 1997, 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 G. Medlin, Jr. --------------------------------- John G. Medlin, Jr. Dated: November 17, 1997 8 Page 55 Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints David Levy and Brock Hattox, 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, 1997, 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/ Samuel A. Nunn --------------------------------- Samuel A. Nunn Dated: November 17, 1997 9 Page 56 Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints David Levy and Brock Hattox, 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, 1997, 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/ Herman J. Russell --------------------------------- Herman J. Russell Dated: November 17, 1997 10 Page 57 Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints David Levy and Brock Hattox, 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, 1997, 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 17, 1997 11 Page 58 Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints David Levy and Brock Hattox, 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, 1997, 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/ Barrie A. Wigmore --------------------------------- Barrie A. Wigmore Dated: November 17, 1997