Something unexpected caught Matthew Jones’ attention when he was looking for a turtle in a ditch near his Pascagoula home. It was a 1989 class ring, bearing the name “Alton.”

The 13-year-old cleaned it up and asked his mother if she could find who the ring belonged to and mail it.

The owner was Alton McClantoc, a 1989 graduate of Pascagoula High School now living in Alabama. McClantoc says he lost the ring in the woods shortly after getting it and was surprised it was ever found.

To show his gratitude for its return, McClantoc recently drove to Pascagoula with a surprise for Matthew: a fishing rod that his mother said he wanted.