THE RYLAND GROUP, INC.
Power of Attorney

The undersigned constitutes and appoints each of Timothy
J. Geckle and Sheri L. Markham of The Ryland Group, Inc.,
and Sandy Baublitz and Doug Brooks of DB Alex. Brown LLC,
signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact to:

1. execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
undersigned's capacity as a director of The Ryland Group,
Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with
Section 16(a) and any other forms required by the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder, as well as any
forms required in connection with the Securities Act of 1933
including Rule 144, or  otherwise under state or federal
securities laws (the "Forms");

2. do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of
the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to
complete and execute the Forms and timely file the Forms
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission,
any stock exchange or federal, state, local or other
authority; and

3. take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection
with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-
in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or
legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood
that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf
of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be
in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as
such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
discretion.

The undersigned grants to each attorney-in-fact full power
and authority to do and perform any and every act whatsoever
requisite, necessary or proper, to be done in the exercise of
any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if
personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such
attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted.  The undersigned agrees that
each such attorney-in-fact herein may rely entirely on information
furnished orally or in writing by the undersigned to such
attorney-in-fact.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect
until the undersigned is no longer required to file the Forms
or earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing
delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of
Attorney to be executed as of this 8th day of October, 2003.

/S/
Robert E. Mellor