Exhibit 24
POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints Teresa B. Rosenthal and/or James C. Robertson, 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 St. Mary Land & Exploration
Company (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules
thereunder;

(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 any such Form 3, 4, or 5 and timely file such form with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any stock exchange
or similar 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 such attorney-in-fact full power and
authority, to do and perform any and every act and thing 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 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 attorney-in-fact, in serving
in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, is not assuming, nor
is the Company 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 full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect
to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by
the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing
delivered to the foregoing attorney-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney
to be executed as of this 22nd day of January, 2004.

/s/ KEVIN E. WILLSON
Signature

Kevin E. Willson
Printed Name