<Page>

                                                                      EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Michael D.
O'Halleran, Harvey N. Medvin and Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with
full power to act without the others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full and several power of substitution and resubstitution
for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), for the registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments
and supplements thereto or to the prospectus contained therein (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the
qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such
securities, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ Edgar D. Jannotta
                                          ---------------------------

<Page>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Michael D.
O'Halleran, Harvey N. Medvin and Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with
full power to act without the others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full and several power of substitution and resubstitution
for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), for the registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments
and supplements thereto or to the prospectus contained therein (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the
qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such
securities, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ Lester B. Knight
                                          ---------------------------

<Page>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Michael D.
O'Halleran, Harvey N. Medvin and Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with
full power to act without the others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full and several power of substitution and resubstitution
for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), for the registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments
and supplements thereto or to the prospectus contained therein (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the
qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such
securities, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ Perry J. Lewis
                                          ---------------------------

<Page>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Michael D.
O'Halleran, Harvey N. Medvin and Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with
full power to act without the others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full and several power of substitution and resubstitution
for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), for the registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments
and supplements thereto or to the prospectus contained therein (including
all pre-effective and post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to
the qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of
such securities, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ R. Eden Martin
                                          ---------------------------

<Page>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Michael D.
O'Halleran, Harvey N. Medvin and Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with
full power to act without the others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full and several power of substitution and resubstitution
for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
Securities Act"), for the registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments
and supplements thereto or to the prospectus contained therein (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the
qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such
securities, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ Andrew J. McKenna
                                          ---------------------------
<Page>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Michael D.
O'Halleran, Harvey N. Medvin and Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with
full power to act without the others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full and several power of substitution and resubstitution
for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), for the registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments
and supplements thereto or to the prospectus contained therein (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the
qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such
securities, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ Robert S. Morrison
                                          ---------------------------
<Page>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Michael D.
O'Halleran, Harvey N. Medvin and Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with
full power to act without the others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full and several power of substitution and resubstitution
for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
("Securities Act"), for the registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments
and supplements thereto or to the prospectus contained therein (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the
qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such
securities, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ Richard C. Notebaert
                                          --------------------------

<Page>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Harvey N. Medvin and
Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with full power to act without the
others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full and
several power of substitution and resubstitution for the undersigned and in
the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign a
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act"), for the
registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.375%
senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments and supplements thereto or
to the prospectus contained therein (including all pre-effective and
post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the qualification
or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such securities,
granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or
their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ Michael D. O'Halleran
                                          --------------------------

<Page>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Michael D.
O'Halleran, Harvey N. Medvin and Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with
full power to act without the others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full and several power of substitution and resubstitution
for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), for the registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments
and supplements thereto or to the prospectus contained therein (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the
qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such
securities, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ John W. Rogers, Jr.
                                          ---------------------------

<Page>

                             POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael D. O'Halleran, Harvey N.
Medvin and Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with full power to act
without the others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full and several power of substitution and resubstitution for the undersigned
and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to
sign a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), for the
registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.375%
senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments and supplements thereto or
to the prospectus contained therein (including all pre-effective and
post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the qualification
or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such securities,
granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or
their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ Patrick G. Ryan
                                          ----------------------------
<Page>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Michael D.
O'Halleran, Harvey N. Medvin and Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with
full power to act without the others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full and several power of substitution and resubstitution
for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), for the registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments
and supplements thereto or to the prospectus contained therein (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the
qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such
securities, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ Patrick G. Ryan, Jr.
                                          ---------------------------
<Page>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Michael D.
O'Halleran, Harvey N. Medvin and Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with
full power to act without the others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full and several power of substitution and resubstitution
for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), for the registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments
and supplements thereto or to the prospectus contained therein (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the
qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such
securities, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ George A. Schaefer
                                          -----------------------------
<Page>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Michael D. O'Halleran
and Harvey N. Medvin, and each of them, with full power to act without the
others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full and
several power of substitution and resubstitution for the undersigned and in
the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign a
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), for the
registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.375%
senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments and supplements thereto or
to the prospectus contained therein (including all pre-effective and all
post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the qualification
or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such securities,
granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or
their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ Raymond I. Skilling
                                          ---------------------------
<Page>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Patrick G. Ryan, Michael D.
O'Halleran, Harvey N. Medvin and Raymond I. Skilling, and each of them, with
full power to act without the others, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full and several power of substitution and resubstitution
for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), for the registration of up to $225,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due 2012 and any and all amendments
and supplements thereto or to the prospectus contained therein (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all documents relating to the
qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities laws of such
securities, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his/her name
effective as of January 17, 2003.

                                          /s/ Carolyn Y. Woo
                                          ---------------------------