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                                   EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
                                 ROBERDS, INC.
                                  Common Stock
 
     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That each person whose signature appears
below has made, constituted and appointed, and by this instrument does make,
constitute and appoint Robert M. Wilson, Michael A. Bruns, Glenn E. Morrical,
and Robert T. Wilson, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, to affix for him and in his name,
place and stead, as attorney-in-fact, his signature as director or officer, or
both, of Roberds, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), to Registration
Statements on Form S-8 or any other form that may be used from time to time,
with respect to the issuance and sale of its Common Shares and other securities
pursuant to the Roberds, Inc. 1993 Outside Director Stock Option Plan, the
Amended and Restated Roberds, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside
Directors, the Roberds, Inc. 1993 Stock Incentive Plan, the Roberds, Inc.
Amended Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Roberds, Inc. Profit Sharing and
Employee Retirement Savings Plan and to any and all amendments, post-effective
amendments and exhibits to such Registration Statements, and to any and all
applications and other documents pertaining thereto, giving and granting to each
such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform every act and
thing whatsoever necessary to be done in the premises, as fully as they might or
could do if personally present, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that
each of such attorney-in-fact or any such substitute shall lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney has been signed this 31st day of
December, 1997.
 

                               
   /s/ KENNETH W. FLETCHER              /s/ JERRY L. KIRBY
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     Kenneth W. Fletcher                  Jerry L. Kirby
 
     /s/ ROBERT M. WILSON           /s/ GILBERT P. WILLIAMSON
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       Robert M. Wilson               Gilbert P. Williamson
 
      /s/ CARL E. GUNTER
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        Carl E. Gunter                   Donald C. Wright
 
     /s/ MICHAEL A. BRUNS              /s/ JAMES F. ROBESON
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       Michael A. Bruns                  James F. Robeson
 
     /s/ HOWARD W. SMITH
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       Howard W. Smith