Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net earnings	$ 340,874	$ 313,374	$ 250,264
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	261,622	245,076	225,383
Amortization	27,278	25,209	25,135
Impairment	1,729	4,250	0
Deferred income taxes	36,309	68,552	69,640
Loss (gain) on sales of plant and equipment	(1,551)	247	976
Gain on sale of businesses	(6,822)	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	27,053	25,608	23,669
Losses on the extinguishment of debt	0	0	4,162
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding effects of business acquisitions and divestitures:
Securitization of trade receivables	0	0	(295,000)
Trade receivables, net	(42,485)	(89,976)	(66,216)
Inventories, net	(62,317)	(29,307)	(29,446)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(14,706)	(14,965)	(3,586)
Accounts payable, trade	(2,636)	9,980	6,043
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(8,090)	(55,294)	65,504
Other non-current assets	(5,374)	2,795	1,427
Other non-current liabilities	(616)	857	(2,654)
Net cash provided by operating activities	550,268	506,406	275,301
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(325,465)	(356,514)	(256,030)
Proceeds from sales of plant, equipment and businesses	31,413	16,365	15,844
Business acquisitions and holdback settlements	(97,521)	(160,115)	(21,186)
Other, net	(1,286)	(1,830)	(395)
Net cash used in investing activities	(392,859)	(502,094)	(261,767)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net (decrease) increase in short-term debt	(388,452)	388,368	0
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt	862,832	1,066,526	1,108,010
Proceeds from trade receivables securitization	0	0	295,000
Repayment of long-term debt	(21,428)	(1,149,106)	(1,072,417)
Financing costs	(6,697)	(4,567)	(8,598)
Premium paid on redemption of senior subordinated notes	0	0	(3,175)
Purchase of treasury stock	(591,873)	(300,000)	(300,000)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	88,700	36,619	22,092
Stock issued for the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	17,088	15,256	14,997
Excess tax benefit realized from the exercise of stock options	36,160	17,516	8,444
Dividends paid to stockholders	(122,202)	(95,323)	(83,797)
Change in cash overdraft and other	10,186	7,844	16,127
Net cash used in financing activities	(115,686)	(16,867)	(3,317)
Change in cash	41,723	(12,555)	10,217
Cash - Beginning of period	44,663	57,218	47,001
Cash - End of period	$ 86,386	$ 44,663	$ 57,218