Exhibit 24


                                Power of Attorney
                                -----------------



     I, Charles R. Lotter,  hereby  appoint and authorize  Jeffrey J.  Vawrinek,
Grant A. Hurst,  and Ralph H.  Richardson,  together or individually to prepare,
execute, and file (electronically or otherwise), specifically on my behalf as my
attorney-in-fact,  Forms 3, 4 and 5, Forms 144, and any  amendments  thereto and
any forms required to comply with Section 16 of the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934 or similar provisions of securities laws and the rules thereunder ("Section
16 Forms"),  with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission or any other required
public  authority or stock exchange  regarding my  transactions  in J. C. Penney
Company,  Inc. stock or  securities.  By signing below, I hereby adopt as my own
signature any one or more of the signatures of the  individuals  set forth above
which may appear on such Section 16 Forms filed on my behalf.


     This  power of  attorney  shall be in full force and effect on and from the
date  below  written  and  shall  remain  in full  force  and  effect  until the
undersigned  is no longer  required to file Section 16 Forms with respect to the
undersigned's  holdings of and transactions in J. C. Penney Company,  Inc. stock
or securities  or until  specifically  rescinded.  By execution of this power of
attorney I hereby  authorize  and grant the  powers  stated  herein.

Dated this 12th day of June, 2003.



                                                        /s/ Charles R. Lotter
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