THE RYLAND GROUP, INC.
Power of Attorney

The undersigned constitutes and appoints each of Timothy
J. Geckle and Sheri L. Markham, signing singly, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

1. execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director of
The Ryland Group, Inc. (the "Company"),Form ID to obtain EDGAR
Access Codes, 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 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 hereby 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, hereby 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 acknowledges that the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at
the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the
Company assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities
to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the
Securities Act of 1933.

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.  The undersigned
also agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and
each such attorney-in-fact against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in these respects) that arise out of
or are based upon any untrue statements or omission of
necessary facts in the information provided by the undersigned
to such attorney-in-fact for purposes of executing,
acknowledging, delivering or filing the Forms (including
amendments thereto) and agrees to reimburse the Company and
such attorney-in-fact for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating or defending against
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect
until the undersigned is no longer required to file the Forms
with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions
in securities issued by the Company, 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 25th day of April, 2007.

/S/
William M. Butler