CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 68,504	$ 64,121	$ 54,293
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(194)	251	(1,197)
Income from continuing operations	68,698	63,870	55,490
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by continuing operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets	52,658	36,315	33,325
Deferred income taxes	24,227	17,654	16,191
Share-based compensation expense	9,191	4,071	7,411
Provision for bad debt	3,142	2,636	3,960
Discount accretion on insurance claims	874	912	1,248
Auction rate security credit loss impairment		127	1,566
Gain on sale of assets	(150)	(1,059)	(941)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net	(3,915)
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	2,539
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Trade accounts receivable	(18,432)	1,976	19,931
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(7,786)	(297)	(1,431)
Insurance recoverables	5,488	(3,981)	(500)
Other assets and long-term receivables	5,962	3,856	(8,764)
Income taxes payable	4,396	22,629	12,623
Retirement plans and other non-current liabilities	(4,085)	(317)	(5,144)
Insurance claims	(11,950)	(247)	(1,497)
Trade accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	25,943	(7,399)	(12,213)
Total adjustments	88,102	76,876	65,765
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities	156,800	140,746	121,255
Net cash provided by discontinued operating activities	3,190	9,118	19,616
Net cash provided by operating activities	159,990	149,864	140,871
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(22,124)	(23,942)	(18,582)
Proceeds from sale of assets and other	912	1,512	2,165
Purchase of businesses, net of cash acquired	(290,985)	(65,430)	(21,050)
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	(215)
Proceeds from sale of auction rate securities	5,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(307,412)	(87,860)	(37,467)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercises of stock options (including income tax benefit)	9,708	11,376	6,331
Dividends paid	(29,744)	(28,152)	(26,727)
Deferred financing costs paid	(5,021)
Borrowings from line of credit	885,500	448,000	638,000
Repayment of borrowings from line of credit	(726,000)	(480,000)	(695,500)
Changes in book cash overdraft		(7,935)	(18,096)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	134,443	(56,711)	(95,992)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(12,979)	5,293	7,412
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	39,446	34,153	26,741
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	26,467	39,446	34,153
Supplemental Data:
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received	9,651	(108)	1,426
Tax effect from exercise of options	(467)	383	57
Cash received from exercise of options	10,175	10,993	7,145
Interest paid on line of credit	10,055	3,398	4,740
Non-cash investing activities:
Common stock issued for business acquired			$ 1,198