Seriously, Witz, you should give him one today. As much as you don't think he deserves it, and should just DO what he's supposed to do, he'll remember your encouraging words the rest of today -- well, at least we can hope he does!
Then there's guys like my husband (or maybe yours is like this, too) who do one little unrequested task (that needs doing) and then they blow their own horn loud enough to wake the dead, begging for acknowledgement.
I have to keep myself from gagging when that happens, but I try to express some level of gratitude anyway. It's not always easy.