<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Annual Form
10-K and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-1997             JUL-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1996             AUG-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1997             JUL-31-1996
<CASH>                                      12,819,471               6,438,760
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                              139,364,291             103,048,366
<ALLOWANCES>                               (23,718,000)            (16,978,000)
<INVENTORY>                                 23,357,451              15,191,011
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           152,139,919             112,468,404
<PP&E>                                     277,352,331             176,731,370
<DEPRECIATION>                            (131,239,570)            (85,414,544)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             560,731,820             374,614,318
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      211,960,966              76,461,115
<BONDS>                                    110,000,000             110,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        4,076,189               1,646,933
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                   213,960,056             174,675,115
<OTHER-SE>                                           0                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               560,731,820             374,614,318
<SALES>                                    422,692,297             263,029,963
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           422,692,297             263,029,963
<CGS>                                      105,564,558              71,012,877
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              105,564,558              71,012,877
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           252,994,282             153,876,493
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          13,560,897               5,228,318
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             50,572,560              32,912,275
<INCOME-TAX>                                19,765,700              12,356,500
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         30,806,860              20,555,775
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                30,806,860              20,555,775
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.17                     .83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.12                     .82