No. The IRS does not process First In First Out. Perhaps your Dad had a very simple return, or he got a Refund Advance.
The IRS is seriously backlogged due to all the extra stimulus filings, as well as a few million unprocessed 2019 returns left over from the COVID shutdown Lots of other folks are still waiting, so please continue to be patient. Also see:
The IRS is under serious stress — what does that mean for your refund? (msn.com)
What led to IRS backlog: ‘Thin workforce,’ new pandemic relief programs | Federal News Network
