Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 106,273	$ 110,064	$ 17,143
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	13,747	12,719	13,007
Amortization of intangibles	10,262	510	476
Goodwill and trademark impairment	3,466	500	10,281
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	(2,839)	(3,459)	6,411
(Gain)/Loss on disposition of property, plant & equipment	71	252	(420)
Stock-based compensation	2,707	1,387	657
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	(516)
Gain on involuntary conversion of assets	(2,190)	(3,216)
Loss on divestiture of operating subsidiary		323
Changes in assets and liabilities (excluding acquisition):
Accounts receivable	14,648	(49,184)	30,739
Inventories	(17,448)	(29,987)	47,304
Notes receivable	2,424	1,884	(10,000)
Prepaid expenses and other	(3,118)	3,283	(600)
Accounts payable	(15,403)	25,238	(17,548)
Accrued liabilities	(3,275)	42,005	(45,051)
Other liabilities	5,993	(11,667)	(3,829)
Net cash provided by operating activities	114,802	100,652	48,570
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant & equipment	(33,749)	(12,297)	(5,625)
Proceeds from dispositions of property, plant & equipment	690	4,966	2,890
Proceeds from dispositions of investments	3,700	115,850	10,850
Proceeds on dissolution of joint venture			1,578
Issuance of note receivable		(10,000)	(10,000)
Insurance proceeds from involuntary conversion of assets	2,569	4,214
Acquisition of operating subsidiaries	(99,562)	(19,756)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(126,352)	82,977	(307)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends	(22,329)	(42,408)	(15,523)
Purchase of treasury stock		(115,420)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	516
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	1,047	16	27
Net cash used in financing activities	(20,766)	(157,812)	(15,496)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		250	(703)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(32,316)	26,067	32,064
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	247,751	221,684	189,620
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	215,435	247,751	221,684
Supplemental cash flow information:
Income taxes paid	57,789	54,206	23,622
Interest paid	212	395	525
Non-cash transactions:
Capital expenditures in accounts payable	472	523	53
Common stock issued in business acquisition	$ 90,531