Museum gives its security chief a new job and his attempts at 'social media management' have people LOLing

By Alicia Lee, CNN

Updated 0120 GMT (0920 HKT) March 25, 2020

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Tim, right, has become an internet favorite after he was put in charge of a museum's social media accounts. He is photographed here with actor Sam Elliot and Elliot's "quality mustache."

(CNN)A new internet icon has emerged and his name is Tim.

As the head of security at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Tim takes his responsibility of protecting the museum and its collection seriously.

But with the museum closed to the public and other employees working from home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Tim was given an additional duty of managing the museum's social media accounts.

"I'm new to social media but excited to share what I am told is called 'content' on all of The Cowboy's what I am told are 'platforms' including the Twitter, the Facebook, and the Instagram," Tim wrote in his first post.

View this post on Instagram

Hello Friends, 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 social media but excited to share what I am told is called "content" on all of The Cowboy's what I am told are "platforms" including the Twitter, the Facebook, and the Instagram. My team and I will also continue to protect and monitor the museum and grounds. Thanks, Tim We are required to smile in our official photos. Send.

A post shared by National Cowboy Museum (@nationalcowboymuseum) on Mar 17, 2020 at 2:15pm PDT

In Tim's "content" that he posts daily, he takes followers on a tour through the empty museum, showing off cool artifacts like the hat and eye patch John Wayne wore in "True Grit," the 1969 film in which Wayne won his only Academy Award for his portrayal of US Marshal Rooster Cogburn.

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 pic.twitter.com/yNO3RP4uA4
— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) March 17, 2020

While definitely interesting, his followers seem to be getting a kick out of his posts for a completely different reason -- his dad jokes and wholesome attempts at figuring out social media.

From writing out "hashtag" to ending each post with "Thanks, Tim," he isn't what you'd call social media savvy, but that's why people are loving him.

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 pic.twitter.com/AZu7EidGu2
— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) March 19, 2020

Someone suggested I post a Tick Tock. It's from our Warhol and The West Exhibition.
Roy Rogers Alarm Clock c 1951 from The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; Founding Collection, Contribution The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Inc TC526.36 #HashtagTheCowboy Thanks, Tim pic.twitter.com/FTz9Gp5bZH
— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) March 21, 2020

"Tim has turned this twitter into a wholesome beacon in frightening times," one Twitter user commented.

"I love this man omg thank you for this wholesome content I'm staying inside for people like you #HashtagThanksTim," another commented.

Putting Tim in charge of the museum's social media was simply just a way to keep the public engaged while the museum was closed, said Seth Spillman, the museum's chief marketing and communications director.

Spillman said he never expected each post would be garnering thousands of likes from people around the world.

"What we found was an authentic voice for the Museum," Spillman said in a statement to CNN. "What we didn't anticipate was how much that voice would resonate with people during this difficult time. It's wonderful."

Let's just hope that once the coronavirus crisis ends, the museum will let Tim keep tweeting.