CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014
Net sales	$ 1,120,625	$ 1,171,731	$ 1,225,034
Cost of products sold	561,852	613,299	615,470
Gross margin	558,773	558,432	609,564
Operating expenses:
Research and development	35,799	36,734	35,048
Selling, general and administrative	405,096	422,704	452,164
Restructuring charges	0	16,821	15,012
Impairment charges	0	46,867	148,551
Total operating expenses	440,895	523,126	650,775
Operating income (loss)	117,878	35,306	(41,211)
Other (expense) and income:
Investment and other (expense) income	(709)	845	2,402
Interest expense	(7,824)	(11,156)	(14,300)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	109,345	24,995	(53,109)
Income tax expense (benefit)	29,235	20,093	(4,963)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	80,110	4,902	(48,146)
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	(1,915)	2,178
Net earnings (loss)	$ 80,110	$ 2,987	$ (45,968)
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic (in shares)	50,541	51,285	51,866
Diluted (in shares)	50,769	51,383	51,866
Class A Nonvoting Common Stock [Member]
Other (expense) and income:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$ 80,110	$ 4,902	$ (48,238)
Earnings per share:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations, per basic share	$ 1.59	$ 0.10	$ (0.93)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations, per diluted share	1.58	0.10	(0.93)
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, per basic share	0.00	(0.04)	0.04
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, per diluted share	0.00	(0.04)	0.04
Net earnings (loss) per share, basic	1.59	0.06	(0.89)
Net earnings (loss) per share, diluted	1.58	0.06	(0.89)
Dividends	$ 0.81	$ 0.80	$ 0.78
Class B Voting Common Stock [Member]
Other (expense) and income:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$ 79,326	$ 4,107	$ (49,057)
Earnings per share:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations, per basic share	$ 1.57	$ 0.08	$ (0.95)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations, per diluted share	1.56	0.08	(0.95)
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, per basic share	0.00	(0.04)	0.05
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, per diluted share	0.00	(0.04)	0.05
Net earnings (loss) per share, basic	1.57	0.04	(0.90)
Net earnings (loss) per share, diluted	1.56	0.04	(0.90)
Dividends	$ 0.79	$ 0.78	$ 0.76