Nearly 30 years after her mother convinced her that she could drive a bus, Tamieko Cook has been named King County Metro’s Operator of the Year, an honor determined by the people who know the job best: her fellow transit operators.
Cook was selected by her peers from among more than 2,700 Metro operators and was recognized Tuesday during a ceremony at Metro’s South Base attended by King County leaders and colleagues from across the agency.
“Tamieko Cook is in a class of her own,” Metro General Manager Michelle Allison said. “You’ve earned this recognition not just for what you do, but for how you do it—with heart, integrity and a deep commitment to the people of King County.”
For Cook, the recognition represents another chapter in a relationship with Metro that began long before she became an operator.
Her mother, Velda Square, worked as a Metro transit operator during the 1980s. As a child, Cook accompanied her mother to Metro bases, union meetings and cookouts, where her mother’s colleagues became an extended family. Cook remembers her mother enjoying those gatherings and becoming particularly well known for her cooking and baking, especially her cakes.
Just before Cook’s 21st birthday in 1996, Square encouraged her daughter to apply to become a Metro driver.
Cook wasn’t convinced.
“Ma, I can’t drive a bus!” Cook recalled telling her.
Her mother’s response was simple: “Metro will train you.”
Several months later, Cook was behind the wheel.
Nearly three decades later, she has risen to the top of her profession while carrying forward a family connection to public transit and service.
“You—and your mom!—remind us that Metro isn’t just about moving people from point A to point B,” Allison said. “It’s about connection, community and care.”
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay said Cook’s recognition reflects both her longevity and the way she has treated passengers throughout her career.
“Tamieko represents the very best of Metro and the very best of public service,” Zahilay said. “For 30 years, she has connected people to the places and opportunities that matter in their lives, while treating every rider with dignity and respect. Her commitment to serving others is a family tradition, and we are proud to recognize the impact she has made in King County.”
Cook’s path at Metro was not uninterrupted. After working for the agency for a few years, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where she served as a B-52 engine mechanic, a move she made in part to challenge herself and try something different.
She eventually returned to Metro and continued her education, earning degrees from South Seattle Community College and The Evergreen State College. She also became involved in union leadership.
Cook credits her Metro career with helping provide opportunities that extended beyond the driver’s seat, including completing her bachelor’s degree, purchasing a home and traveling. But she said serving people remains an important part of why she does the work.
“I like being the captain of the ship,” Cook said. “And I try to lead with respect regardless of whether the person gives it back to me. If I give you a harsh time you may take it out on the next driver and I think about that, I truly do.”
That philosophy has not gone unnoticed by riders.
One regular commuter described running with other ferry passengers to catch Cook’s Route 12 bus at 7:45 each morning. According to the rider, Cook assured passengers that they did not need to run because she would wait for them.
“This is so unusual that when we started to go the crowd running from the ferry gave her a round of applause,” the rider said. “She is absolutely amazing and accommodates all of us from the ferry and her being this sensitive really means so much to us and she is worthy of praise.”
Despite the recognition, Cook’s favorite route is tied to something much more personal: the neighborhoods where she grew up.
“The 128 is my ‘favorite favorite.’ It goes through some of my old stomping grounds in Boulevard Park,” Cook said.
Cook’s Operator of the Year recognition is not the first time her service has been honored.
She previously received Metro’s Operator of the Month recognition and, in August 2005, received the George Turner Award after assisting a customer using a motorized mobility device. The award is presented by the Northwest Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
“Tamieko has a long history of public service demonstrating her commitment to our customers,” said Phil DeVault, director of bus operations for Metro. “She also has been a leader for our employees, showing that she truly cares about their well-being with empathy and grace. Metro is proud to honor Tamieko as our Operator of the Year.”
Away from Metro, Cook helped raise her niece, Mysia, and now helps raise her great-nephew, Marquez, who recently turned 16 and whom she describes as “one of my favorite people.” She also enjoys traveling, live music and comedy, discovering new places to eat and spending time with family and friends.
After nearly three decades behind the wheel, Cook’s advice to other operators reflects the same philosophy she says guides her interactions with passengers: lead with respect even when that respect is not returned, remember the importance of the service operators provide and don’t allow the difficulties of the job to follow you home.
Or, as Cook puts it, leave work “on your coach.”
