Some men do a lot of "assuming". They assume we know that they think we look nice and don't feel it's necessary to mention something so obvious! I've also tried prodding my husband to give me compliments. He'll do it a couple of times and then forget. I've been married for 37 years, so I doubt I'll get him to change at this point and I think it' a bit demeaning to "beg" for compliments, so I just accept things as they are.
Most men I know are also not "chatty" like my girlfriends and me. It's just the way they are. The only guy I know who likes to chat and gives me compliments is my gay hairdresser!
I can completely change my hairstyle and color and my husband won't notice till I ask him how I look and, you guessed it, he'll say "nice" his one and only adjective when it comes to my looks (if I ask him)!
I should be grateful as at least he doesn't say anything mean to me about my weight - although he also hasn't commented on my weight loss except when I told him I'd lost 35 lbs. he said "that's good". MEN!!!!!
So, Harpo, don't hold your breath waiting for a compliment from your dad. You might be able to get him to compliment you a couple of times, but it's hard to make a leopard change his spots! Sometimes we just have to accept there are things we can't change and make the best of it.
By the way, you said you thought you might never be "good enough" in his eyes. I'm sure that's not the case - I bet he's very proud of you but just doesn't know how to express it.