Move over Ben Stiller, America has a new favorite museum security guard.
When stay-at-home orders came down across the U.S. in mid-March as the novel coronavirus spread across the country, many people’s lives changed quickly and dramatically.
Some people lost their jobs permanently or temporarily, while others had to transition to new roles at their place of employment.
Like Tim Tiller, of Oklahoma.
Tiller is the head of security at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Security at a museum is considered an “essential duty,” so Tiller was still heading into work. The museum itself was temporarily shuttered, like so many other museums worldwide, due to the pandemic.
But now, Tiller had a new job responsibility at the museum: to run the venue’s Twitter account.
The thing is, Tiller didn’t know much about social media and, in his posts, you could tell.
But it was so endearing.
His first tweet on March 17 announcing his Twitter takeover ended with the word “send.”
And from that point on, he became what some might consider a "Twitter icon."
Hello, my name is Tim and I am the head of security for The Cowboy. I have been asked to take on the additional duty of social media management while the museum is closed. I’m new to this but excited. My team will also continue to protect and monitor the museum. Thanks, Tim Send
— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) March 17, 2020
You see, Tiller ends all tweets with “Thanks, Tim.”
It’s like he sees this as a journey we’re all on together and he lets us know with every tweet that he appreciates us following along.
And people are following.
The museum’s Twitter account now has over 307,000 followers. It had less than 10,000 before the Tim Takeover.
Over the past month-and-a-half, Tiller has used the social media platform to also share things about his family. Like when he tweeted how one of his grandchildren told him he needs to use hashtags.
This is the hat and eyepatch the Duke wore in the movie True Grit. They are part of our Exhibition about the 2 True Grit. Lots of interesting props and clothes. I’m told I can’t try it on. Hashtag John Wayne. Lucas, my grandson, told me to use hashtags. Thanks, Tim
— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) March 17, 2020
He thanked his grandkid by posting a video trying to catch Woody and friends from “Toy Story” moving in a museum exhibit that is part of the “Find Your Western” exhibition.
Here are Woody and his friends from Toy Story. They’re part of our Find Your Western exhibition exploring the West’s role in popular culture. Watched this movie with the grandkids. Tried to catch them moving, Lucas and Keira. Thanks, Tim
— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) March 19, 2020
But those darn hashtags were tricky to learn. Followers told Tiller he wasn’t quite doing them correctly, and he got back on the saddle and kept trying.
Thanks for all the tips, Friends. Realize I have been doing the hashtags wrong. I need to use that pound sign from the phone. I’m learning! Here’s his costume from True Grit from 1969 courtesy of John Wayne Enterprises. #HashtagJohnWayne Thanks, Tim
— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) March 19, 2020
On March 19, followers saw the first mention of “Seth in Marketing” who was working remotely, helping Tiller out.
When Seth in Marketing suggested Tiller take followers to one of the Selfie Stations in the museum, Tiller didn’t disappoint:
Seth in Marketing said people would love to have me take some photos of our Selfie Stations in The Cowboy. Here’s one from the Rodeo Gallery. Enjoy! Thanks, Tim
— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) March 19, 2020
Nailed it.
Didn’t get the Selfie Station photo quite right. I get it now. Here’s the Selfie Station in the Warhol and the West running through May 10, 2020. Thanks, Tim
— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) March 19, 2020
Tiller started to get into the social media groove and even started a fashion show of items you can buy from the gift shop.
The joy of following Tiller is that you learn something new every day and you get a good laugh.
But, most importantly, you get to follow the journey of a guy who is just making the best of his current situation – an uncomfortable, new situation that so many of us can relate to.
And he isn’t afraid to share with the world while he learns on the job.
Head of Security and then head of the social media and now thanks to Arby’s I have even one more hat to wear! Lol! Seth in Marketing told me I need to put an at before Arby’s so they see it. Thank you, At @Arbys! #HashtagTheCowboy Thanks, Tim
— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) April 7, 2020
And to this, we say: “Thanks, Tim.”
