<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income on pages 20 and 21 of the Company's 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1997 <CASH> 3,751 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 17,131 <ALLOWANCES> 744 <INVENTORY> 2,686 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 30,643 <PP&E> 16,343 <DEPRECIATION> 8,471 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 57,607 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 26,752 <BONDS> 15,022 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 122 <OTHER-SE> 5,506 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 57,607 <SALES> 221,011 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 221,011 <CGS> 181,233 <TOTAL-COSTS> 181,233 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,494 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,576 <INCOME-TAX> 7,290 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,286 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,286 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.87 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.87