<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> AUG-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> OCT-30-1999 <CASH> 78,400,189 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 103,530,893 <ALLOWANCES> 3,521,902 <INVENTORY> 51,873,653 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 238,667,965 <PP&E> 160,459,280 <DEPRECIATION> 73,635,022 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 397,526,189 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 74,766,779 <BONDS> 12,404,655 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 8,573,907 <OTHER-SE> 294,075,746 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 397,526,189 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 160,904,275 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 120,951,955 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 7,111,965 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 208,767 <INCOME-PRETAX> 20,598,493 <INCOME-TAX> 8,135,262 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 12,463,231 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,463,231 <EPS-BASIC> 0.49 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.48