From scorekeeping to manning the scoreboards, Mario Godinez has been a staple of the Turlock High School campus community for over three decades.

Ahead of the Bulldogs’ pre-league basketball matchup with Antioch on Tuesday evening, Godinez took the court to accept a plaque from the school thanking him for all his years of service. What he didn’t know was that his son, Frank, was the one who would present him with the honor.

Frank serves in the United States Army and has been deployed since last winter. He appeared from behind the bleachers to embrace his father.

“In the past, I’ve had get-togethers with my family before I leave or when I return, but never in public in front of a lot of people. I decided I wanted to give him some shine tonight since he doesn’t really like the spotlight,” Frank joked.

Last season, Frank could not finish the season as the freshman-level basketball coach because of his deployment, Many of his former players and coaching colleagues also took time to welcome him back home ahead of tip-off.