<ARTICLE>                                                              5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ON FORM 10Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>    1,000
<CURRENCY>      U.S. DOLLARS
       
                                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                      9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                            MAY-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                               JUN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                 FEB-28-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                        1
<CASH>                                                             2,763
<SECURITIES>                                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                    273,700
<ALLOWANCES>                                                       3,592
<INVENTORY>                                                      286,232
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 580,308
<PP&E>                                                           989,535
<DEPRECIATION>                                                   336,406
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                 1,505,971
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                            315,748
<BONDS>                                                          360,913
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                                            0
<COMMON>                                                             966
<OTHER-SE>                                                       697,303
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                   1,505,971
<SALES>                                                        1,375,192
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                               1,375,192
<CGS>                                                          1,177,910
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                  1,177,910
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                  79,347
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                11,623
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                  106,312
<INCOME-TAX>                                                      39,867
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                               66,445
<DISCONTINUED>                                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                        0
<CHANGES>                                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                                      66,445
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                        .69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        .69