Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 121,739	$ 106,273	$ 110,064
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	13,843	13,747	12,719
Amortization of intangibles	11,135	10,262	510
Goodwill and trademark impairment		3,466	500
Deferred income tax benefit	(3,442)	(2,839)	(3,459)
(Gain)/Loss on disposition of property, plant & equipment	(209)	71	252
Stock-based compensation	688	2,707	1,387
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	(101)	(516)
Gain on involuntary conversion of assets		(2,190)	(3,216)
Loss on divestiture of operating subsidiary			323
Changes in assets and liabilities (excluding acquisitions):
Accounts receivable	(62,592)	14,648	(49,184)
Inventories	(1,585)	(17,448)	(29,987)
Notes receivable	7,062	2,424	1,884
Prepaid expenses and other	(1,181)	(3,118)	3,283
Accounts payable	23,435	(15,403)	25,238
Accrued liabilities	8,185	(3,275)	42,005
Other liabilities	1,864	5,993	(11,667)
Net cash provided by operating activities	118,841	114,802	100,652
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant & equipment	(10,063)	(33,749)	(12,297)
Proceeds from dispositions of property, plant & equipment	629	690	4,966
Proceeds from dispositions of investments	650	3,700	115,850
Proceeds from notes receivable	500
Issuance of notes receivable			(10,000)
Insurance proceeds from involuntary conversion of assets		2,569	4,214
Acquisition of operating subsidiaries	(170)	(99,562)	(19,756)
Other	600
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(7,854)	(126,352)	82,977
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends	(32,322)	(22,329)	(42,408)
Purchase of treasury stock	(77,000)		(115,420)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	101	516
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	1,441	1,047	16
Net cash used in financing activities	(107,780)	(20,766)	(157,812)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			250
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,207	(32,316)	26,067
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	215,435	247,751	221,684
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	218,642	215,435	247,751
Supplemental cash flow information:
Income taxes paid	61,549	57,789	54,206
Interest paid	560	212	395
Non-cash transactions:
Capital expenditures in accounts payable	851	472	523
Common stock issued in business acquisition		$ 90,531