CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016
Net sales	$ 1,173,851	$ 1,113,316	$ 1,120,625
Cost of products sold	585,560	555,024	561,852
Gross margin	588,291	558,292	558,773
Operating expenses:
Research and development	45,253	39,624	35,799
Selling, general and administrative	390,342	387,653	405,096
Total operating expenses	435,595	427,277	440,895
Operating income	152,696	131,015	117,878
Other income (expense):
Investment and other income (expense)	2,487	1,121	(709)
Interest expense	(3,168)	(5,504)	(7,824)
Earnings before income taxes	152,015	126,632	109,345
Income tax expense	60,955	30,987	29,235
Net earnings	$ 91,060	$ 95,645	$ 80,110
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	51,677	51,056	50,541
Diluted (in shares)	52,524	51,956	50,769
Class A Nonvoting Common Stock [Member]
Earnings per share:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations, per basic share	$ 1.76	$ 1.87
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations, per diluted share	1.73	1.84
Net earnings (loss) per share, basic	1.76	1.87	$ 1.59
Net earnings (loss) per share, diluted	1.73	1.84	1.58
Dividends	0.83	0.82	0.81
Class B Voting Common Stock [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings (loss) per share, basic	1.75	1.86	1.57
Net earnings (loss) per share, diluted	1.72	1.83	1.56
Dividends	$ 0.81	$ 0.80	$ 0.79