POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints
Andrew Hughes, W. Donald Bell, Richard J. Jacquet, James Illson,
Linda Teague, Horace Nash, Coleman Cannon, Scott Leichtner and
Katie Young ("Attorneys-in-Fact"), or any one of them acting alone,
the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned
and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any or all Forms 3, Forms 4 or Forms 5 relating
to beneficial ownership of securities of Bell Microproducts Inc.
(the "Issuer"), to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and to deliver a copy of the same to the Issuer,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite
and 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 said attorneys-in-fact and agents,
or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue thereof.  The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing
attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned,are not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities
to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

	This Power of Attorney shall remain in effect
until such time as the undersigned is no longer subject to the
provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
with respect to securities of the Issuer or until this Power of
Attorney is replaced by a later dated Power of Attorney or revoked
by the undersigned in writing.

	The undersigned hereby indemnifies the Attorneys-in-Fact
for all losses and costs the Attorneys-in-Fact may incur in
connection with or arising from the Attorneys-in-Fact's execution
of their authorities granted hereunder.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power
of Attorney to be executed as of this 2nd day of August, 2007.


            		Signature:	s/ James Illson
            		Printed Name:	James Illson