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                                                                   EXHIBIT 24(b)
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
The undersigned officer of Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. hereby consents to and
appoints Thomas E. Petry and James A. Ralston, and each of them, as his true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with all power of substitution, for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the 1995 fiscal year of Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Ohio, and any
and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
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 same 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 and agents, or either of them, or their or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
 
In Witness Whereof, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand on this 20th day
of February, 1996.
 
       /s/ Carroll D. Curless
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         Carroll D. Curless
   Vice President and Controller
   (Principal Accounting Officer)