EXHIBIT 12.1

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

	Fiscal Year										Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002
	1997		1998		1999		2000		2001
Earnings:
Income before income taxes	$	161,645	$	158,268	$	50,062	$	45,847	$	132,095	$	91,724
Interest expense		18,139		19,945		18,926		15,282		21,776		18,357
Amortization of debt costs		265		257		390		454		782		426
Interest portion of rental expense		4,427		5,355		5,429		5,832		6,242		4,660
Total earnings		184,476		183,825		74,807		67,415		160,895		115,167
Fixed charges:
Interest expense		18,139		19,945		18,926		15,282		21,776		18,357
Amortization of debt costs		265		257		390		454		782		426
Interest portion of rental expense		4,427		5,355		5,429		5,832		6,242		4,660
Total fixed charges		22,831		25,557		24,745		21,568		28,800		23,443
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		8.1		7.2		3.0		3.1		5.6		4.9