<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FILED AS PART OF THE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998 <CASH> 23,139 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 129,355 <ALLOWANCES> 3,079 <INVENTORY> 123,097 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 290,379 <PP&E> 324,336 <DEPRECIATION> 99,656 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 526,703 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 186,719 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 37 <OTHER-SE> 248,329 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 526,703 <SALES> 1,277,374 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,277,374 <CGS> 1,115,647 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,192,270 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,124 <INCOME-PRETAX> 81,980 <INCOME-TAX> 25,047 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 56,933 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 56,933 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.53 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.48