<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 26,858 <SECURITIES> 9,000 <RECEIVABLES> 92,113 <ALLOWANCES> 1,847 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 146,119 <PP&E> 92,656 <DEPRECIATION> 49,671 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 359,971 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 77,238 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,464 <OTHER-SE> 126,281 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 359,971 <SALES> 417,321 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 417,321 <CGS> 280,765 <TOTAL-COSTS> 280,765 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 76,441<F3> <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,649 <INCOME-PRETAX> 53,466 <INCOME-TAX> 24,522 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 28,944 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 28,944 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.95<F1> <EPS-DILUTED> 1.92<F2> <FN> <F1>PRO FORMA EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC <F2>PRO FORMA EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED <F3>CONSISTS OF SG&A OF $84,270, CHARGE FOR UNUSUAL ITEMS OF $6,209, LESS GAIN ON SALE OF BUSINESS UNIT OF $14,038. </FN>