<ARTICLE>                                 5                    
<LEGEND>                                                       
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>                                                      
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000    
                                                               
                                                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    6-MOS                 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAY-31-1997          
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-30-1996           
<CASH>                                          35,777            
<SECURITIES>                                         0            
<RECEIVABLES>                                  279,540            
<ALLOWANCES>                                     6,342             
<INVENTORY>                                    261,104             
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               642,767             
<PP&E>                                         706,664             
<DEPRECIATION>                                 383,121            
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,228,299             
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          267,290             
<BONDS>                                        152,186             
<COMMON>                                       205,437             
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0             
<PREFERRED>                                          0             
<OTHER-SE>                                     513,815             
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,228,299             
<SALES>                                              0             
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               917,281             
<CGS>                                                0             
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  526,247             
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0             
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0             
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,888             
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 72,310             
<INCOME-TAX>                                    23,139             
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             49,171            
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0             
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0             
<CHANGES>                                            0             
<NET-INCOME>                                    49,171             
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.50          
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.50