1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 24(a)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Officer and Director of The Sherwin-Williams Company,
an Ohio corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints J.M. Scaminace, L.J. Pitorak and L.E.
Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, as
attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the capacities indicated
below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments, supplements,
and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or other documents to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities
exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority to do and perform any
and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary to be done in the
premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys and any of
them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 2, 2001                      /S/  C. M. CONNOR
       -------------------------           --------------------------
                                           C.M. Connor
                                           Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
                                           Director


   2


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Officer and Director of The Sherwin-Williams Company,
an Ohio corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, L.J. Pitorak and L.E.
Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, as
attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the capacities indicated
below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments, supplements,
and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or other documents to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities
exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority to do and perform any
and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary to be done in the
premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys and any of
them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 2, 2001                    /S/  J. M. SCAMINACE
       --------------------------        -----------------------------
                                         J.M. Scaminace
                                         President and Chief Operating Officer,
                                         Director



   3


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Officer of The Sherwin-Williams Company, an Ohio
corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, J.M. Scaminace and L.E.
Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, as
attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the capacities indicated
below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments, supplements,
and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or other documents to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities
exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority to do and perform any
and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary to be done in the
premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys and any of
them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 2, 2001                  /S/  L. J. PITORAK
       --------------------------     ---------------------------
                                      L. J. Pitorak
                                      Senior Vice President - Finance, Treasurer
                                      and Chief Financial Officer


   4


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Officer of The Sherwin-Williams Company, an Ohio
corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, J.M. Scaminace, L.J. Pitorak
and L.E. Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the
capacities indicated below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments, supplements, and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or
other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
national securities exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority
to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary
to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 2, 2001                   /S/  J. L. AULT
       --------------------------        ------------------------
                                         J. L. Ault
                                         Vice President - Corporate Controller


   5


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Director of The Sherwin-Williams Company, an Ohio
corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, J.M. Scaminace, L.J. Pitorak
and L.E. Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the
capacities indicated below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments, supplements, and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or
other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
national securities exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority
to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary
to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 6, 2001                     /S/  J. C. BOLAND
       ---------------------------        --------------------------
                                          J. C. Boland
                                          Director




   6


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Director of The Sherwin-Williams Company, an Ohio
corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, J.M. Scaminace, L.J. Pitorak
and L.E. Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the
capacities indicated below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments, supplements, and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or
other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
national securities exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority
to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary
to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 7, 2001                       /S/  J. G. BREEN
       -----------------------------        -------------------------
                                            J. G. Breen
                                            Director


   7


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Director of The Sherwin-Williams Company, an Ohio
corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000 hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, J.M. Scaminace, L.J. Pitorak
and L.E. Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the
capacities indicated below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments, supplements, and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or
other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
national securities exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority
to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary
to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 3, 2001                       /S/  D. E. COLLINS
       -----------------------------        ---------------------------
                                            D. E. Collins
                                            Director


   8


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Director of The Sherwin-Williams Company, an Ohio
corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, J.M. Scaminace, L.J. Pitorak
and L.E. Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the
capacities indicated below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments, supplements, and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or
other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
national securities exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority
to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary
to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 6, 2001                      /S/  D. E. EVANS
       ---------------------------        -------------------------
                                          D. E. Evans
                                          Director



   9


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Director of The Sherwin-Williams Company, an Ohio
corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, J.M. Scaminace, L.J. Pitorak
and L.E. Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the
capacities indicated below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments, supplements, and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or
other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
national securities exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority
to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary
to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 5, 2001                      /S/  R. W. MAHONEY
       ---------------------------        ---------------------------
                                          R. W. Mahoney
                                          Director


   10


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Director of The Sherwin-Williams Company, an Ohio
corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, J.M. Scaminace, L.J. Pitorak
and L.E. Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the
capacities indicated below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments, supplements, and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or
other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
national securities exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority
to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary
to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 7, 2001                    /S/  W. G. MITCHELL
       ---------------------------        ----------------------------
                                          W. G. Mitchell
                                          Director



   11


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Director of The Sherwin-Williams Company, an Ohio
corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, J.M. Scaminace, L.J. Pitorak
and L.E. Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the
capacities indicated below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments, supplements, and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or
other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
national securities exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority
to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary
to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 5, 2001                     /S/  A. M. MIXON, III
       ---------------------------        ------------------------------
                                          A. M. Mixon, III
                                          Director


   12


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Director of The Sherwin-Williams Company, an Ohio
corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, J.M. Scaminace, L.J. Pitorak
and L.E. Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the
capacities indicated below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments, supplements, and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or
other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
national securities exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority
to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary
to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 2, 2001                        /S/  C. E. MOLL
       -----------------------------        ------------------------
                                            C. E. Moll
                                            Director



   13


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Director of The Sherwin-Williams Company, an Ohio
corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, J.M. Scaminace, L.J. Pitorak
and L.E. Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the
capacities indicated below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments, supplements, and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or
other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
national securities exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority
to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary
to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 7, 2001                     /S/  H. O. PETRAUSKAS
       ---------------------------        ------------------------------
                                          H. O. Petrauskas
                                          Director



   14


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
                          ----------------------------

         The undersigned Director of The Sherwin-Williams Company, an Ohio
corporation, which corporation anticipates filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and any rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, hereby constitutes and appoints C.M. Connor, J.M. Scaminace, L.J. Pitorak
and L.E. Stellato, or any of them, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign for me and in my name, in the
capacities indicated below, said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments, supplements, and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications or
other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
national securities exchange pertaining thereto, with full power and authority
to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary
to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

         Executed the date set opposite my name.

Date:    FEBRUARY 6, 2001                     /S/  R. K. SMUCKER
       ---------------------------        ---------------------------
                                          R. K. Smucker
                                          Director