“The Legendary Cookie Monster”
Words and music by Marianne Fridell
with Mrs. Seidler’s 4th Grade Class
©2025 Marianne Fridell
My last name is Coates. My first name is Jim.
This is how my story begins:
Garden City, Kansas and a block full of friends
Football, baseball, games without end.
With hide ‘n seek we could hide anywhere.
I hid on our roof and watched the action from there.
Kids running round for their cubby holes.
My brother climbed highest -up a telephone pole. Up a telephone pole.
I joined the Army when I was grown.
Three years at Fort Knox, then I came back home.
Got a job at the packing plant. It really stunk!
One day I decided, “I’d had enough!”
Took my savings, and headed downtown
To the bus station, I was bound.
Slapped down my cash in a flash.
“How far will this take me”, that’s what I asked.
That ticket was a winner. That’s a fact.
It got me to Custer, and I never looked back. I never looked back.
Chorus
In Custer I found happiness to share
Married my best friend. Our kids grew up here.
I’ve known so many students, many have grown.
You call me Cookie Monster, that’s how I’m known.
You asked how I got the job at the school.
I saw the wanted sign and thought it’d be cool.
I knew how to do it. I wanted to do it. Everyday different, everyday new.
And that has really, really been true! Really been true.
Unjamming lockers, mopping up messes, salting sidewalks and shoveling snow,
Cleaning floors, unlocking doors. Catching a snake that wasn’t a fake.
A classroom lake with a pipe break. New adventures every day.
And that’s okay. That’s okay.
My first name is Jim. My last name is Coates.
Here is something you might not know.
How “Cookie Monster” got to be my name.
For 25 years, it’s been my fame.
That’s when a little guy came up to me.
He was scared; it was plain to see.
I knew I had to find a way.
So kids would find it easy to talk with me.
That’s when I put on the cookie monster hat.
Kids like to visit and chat, how about that! How about that!
Chorus
Jim Coates has been a familiar and beloved face in our school community for decades. A man with a warm smile and a kind heart, Jim, affectionately known as “Cookie Monster,” touched countless lives with his dedication, humor, and care.
Born and raised in Garden City, Kansas, Jim spent his childhood immersed in adventure with neighborhood friends. Football, baseball, and endless games of hide-and-seek were his youthful pursuits. Jim’s brother scaled telephone poles during hide and seek, while Jim perched on rooftops, enjoying the action from above.
When the time came to serve his country, Jim joined the U.S. Army, spending three years stationed at Fort Knox before returning home. He worked at a local packing plant, but the grind didn’t suit his spirited nature. On a whim, with some savings in hand, Jim bought a bus ticket that took him all the way to Custer—a move that changed his life forever.
In Custer, Jim found more than just a new town; he found happiness and love, marrying his best friend and raising a family. When he spotted a “Help Wanted” sign at the school, Jim thought it might be the perfect fit, and indeed it was. He spent decades as a janitor, pouring his heart into his work and becoming a vital part of the school community.
Jim’s days were never dull! With every task, he brought energy and good humor, but Jim’s true legacy lies in his connection with the students. To help kids feel comfortable and break the ice, he donned a Cookie Monster hat, earning him a nickname that endures to this day.
For over 25 years, Jim wore that hat with pride, offering a friendly smile, an open ear, and a safe space for students to chat. His kindness, ingenuity, and humor created a bridge between generations, leaving an impact that words alone can hardly capture.
Jim Coates may have retired, but his story will continue to be told and celebrated for years to come. Tonight, as we honor him through song, let’s celebrate the man who truly made this school a better place—a man who will always be known, in the hearts of those he touched, as “Cookie Monster.”