<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1996 <CASH> 6,841,888 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 52,248,773 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 66,425,435 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 128,817,481 <PP&E> 28,366,308 <DEPRECIATION> 11,185,430 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 174,267,671 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 49,914,579 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 909,925 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 122,440,209 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 174,267,671 <SALES> 150,496,821 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 150,496,821 <CGS> 133,806,911 <TOTAL-COSTS> 142,323,895 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (384,962) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 211,733 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,582,793 <INCOME-TAX> 3,467,638 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,115,155 <EPS-PRIMARY> .59 <EPS-DILUTED> 0