<ARTICLE>                       5
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000 
       
                                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS          12-MOS              12-MOS  
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               MAY-31-1998     MAY-31-1997         MAY-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                    MAY-31-1998     MAY-31-1997         MAY-31-1996
<CASH>                                5,062           4,891               4,300
<SECURITIES>                              0               0                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                       126,750         108,380             127,553
<ALLOWANCES>                         10,077           7,838               9,163
<INVENTORY>                         199,368         222,036             189,978
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    382,640         396,341             350,480
<PP&E>                              191,157         177,203             146,155
<DEPRECIATION>                       54,330          43,242              32,018
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      765,319         784,445             673,166
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               181,702         180,604             173,398
<BONDS>                             234,750         234,704             110,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0               0                   0
<PREFERRED>                               0               0                   0
<COMMON>                                175             175                 171
<OTHER-SE>                          317,963         297,300             288,476
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        765,319         784,445             673,166
<SALES>                           1,058,410         966,284             928,599
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  1,058,410         966,284             928,599
<CGS>                               536,829         530,737             466,030
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       977,157         930,286             833,406
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                     23,138          18,308              37,358
<LOSS-PROVISION>                     14,649          11,656               9,565
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   19,980          16,669              11,170
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      38,135           1,021              46,665
<INCOME-TAX>                         14,491             660              14,768
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  23,644             361              31,897
<DISCONTINUED>                            0               0                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0               0                   0
<CHANGES>                                 0               0                   0
<NET-INCOME>                         23,644             361              31,897
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          1.46            0.02                2.02
<EPS-DILUTED>                          1.45            0.02                1.97