


                                  EXHIBIT 24.2

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                       OF
                                RONALD P. GIBSON

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of
Highwoods Properties, Inc. (the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints
Ronald P. Gibson, Carman J. Liuzzo, Edward J. Fritsch and/or Mack D. Pridgen his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with full
powers to sign for me and in my name the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to
register the shares and warrants of the Company, as contemplated by the
Registration Rights and Lockup Agreements between the Company and the holders
listed therein, dated as of October 7, 1997, and as of October 1, 1997, and
generally to do all such things in my name and in my capacity as a director to
enable the Company to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by
my said attorneys-in-fact, or any of them, to said Registration Statement and
any amendments thereto.

                                                 Signature:

Date:    January 5, 1998                          /s/ Ronald P. Gibson
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Ronald P. Gibson


