Tim Thomas is a husband, Uber driver and father figure to Aggieville's bar-goers.
Thomas, 53, of Junction City, started The Bearded Uber, a karaoke Uber experience, a little over a year ago. Since then, he has become a well-known figure on the late-night scene.
“I love this job because I enjoy talking to people,” Thomas said. “I love music, and of course I love sitting on my butt, so I thought, 'Let's go with this.'”
Thomas' van is decorated with colorful lights and plays music as he picks up passengers. He gives guests the experience of a pop star singing his heart out into the microphone.
If they don't know the words, Thomas sets up a karaoke screen between the two seats in front of them.
“I love it when they sing there,” Thomas said. “Like when they come in, I don't care what kind of noise they make. I just want them to have a good time. I want everyone there to have a good time. I don't care what they sound like.”
Thomas is a retired U.S. Army veteran and has been married to his wife Ofelia for 33 years. Ofelia said that while she worked as a nurse, her husband often spent nights alone.
“When I first started, I was awkward about it,” Thomas said. “I didn't really know what I was doing, but I thought I'd give it a try.”
As Thomas drives around Aggieville, people scream with excitement to see him.
“Apparently it's described as a 'party van,' and that's what I get told every time I pick someone up,” Thomas said.
Not only does Thomas enjoy road trips with new friends, he also provides his community with a safe alternative to drunk driving.
“I don't care if I drive someone home who's drunk and wants to sit there outside my house for 15 minutes and talk to me,” Thomas said. “I don't care. It's okay, I'll do my best for them.”
As Thomas' Uber adventure expanded, so did his other business interests.
Tim and Ofelia said they enjoy making shirts and other items and making different crafts.
3D printed figures Sammy and Madeline ride together in Tim Thomas' Uber service, The Bearded Uber. Thomas and his wife Ofelia handcraft shirts and other merchandise.
Those riding in Tim Thomas' van will find hand-painted figures and homemade stickers that Thomas made himself.
He also started creating fun experiences for guests inside the van on TikTok.
Since he started his activities, he has gathered more than 1,200 followers on TikTok, and about 80% of them are people who ride with him.
“Most of my followers are people I've driven before,” Thomas says. “Because they want to see themselves on TikTok.”
This is another way Thomas offers guests the opportunity to become pop stars in their own fashion.
Ofelia Thomas said she could always tell what kind of night he had spent even before he got home.
“Some days he comes home and I hear story after story,” she said. “Then there are nights where he's like, 'Eh, that wasn't that bad.' I can usually gauge how good a night he had by the number of TikTok posts.”
Eventually, Tim Thomas said he wants to do something outside the box, but he doesn't know how that will happen.
“I keep telling my wife that someday in my life I want to do something nefarious, but I don't want to hurt anyone and I don't want it to be illegal,” Thomas said. “So, I don't know what to do.”
Until then, he will continue his love for music and people.
Thomas said he often discovers new music he likes through passengers. His musical tastes are eclectic and wide-ranging. One day he might be listening to Johnny Cash and the next to Tibetan throat music.
Tim Thomas, a U.S. Army veteran, started his Uber experience at karaoke a little more than a year ago. Since then, he has become a well-known figure in the late-night Aggieville community. “I love this job because I enjoy talking to people,” Thomas said.
His favorite song for karaoke is Meatloaf's “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.''
“I just love music,” Thomas said. “It doesn't matter what it is. The music I listen to is Spanish. The music I listen to is Hindi. There's also music from New Zealand, which is actually their native language.”
But one music he just can't keep up with is bluegrass.
As my business grew, so did my love for music and community.
“I enjoy hearing people talk about him because I think he really influences what they do and how they do it,” Ofelia Thomas said. “I don't know, but it's fun to see him having a good time.”
