Walter "Wally" Thurow was born in Plano, Illinois, and lived in the DeKalb-Sycamore area for many years before moving to Slidell, Louisiana. 

During his time in DeKalb-Sycamore, Wally worked at Deco Porcelain Enameling factory before buying a bicycle shop in DeKalb, which he later named Wally's Cyclery. Over the years, Wally became Mr. Pumpkin to the Sycamore community with his signature top hat and high wheel bike. He is the man behind creating the giant pumpkin display on the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse each October. Wally brought the idea to the Sycamore Lions Club in 1962, and the pumpkin contest remains the main focus of the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival. The City of Sycamore celebrated the 60th anniversary of the festival in October 2021. 

Wally loved to travel, and bicycling was his main interest. He and his wife, Jan, would take their bikes on trips to Europe. Wally was a member of Slidell Duplicate Bridge Club, the American Contract Bridge League, and the Sycamore Lions Club, serving as president in 1966. Wally received a Melvin Jones Fellowship in 1991, the highest honor bestowed by Lions International.

Walter "Wally" Thurow passed away Friday, February 3, 2012. Later in 2012, the Wally Thurow Tribute Fund collected public contributions to create and maintain a memorial tribute in his honor. A life-size bronze statue of Wally and his famous bike stands at the corner of Somonauk St. and W. Elm St. in downtown Sycamore. 

The Wally 'Mr. Pumpkin' Thurow Scholarship Fund began at the DeKalb County Community Foundation in 2014. This Fund provides a scholarship award to a graduating Sycamore High School student who displays artistic creativity and community involvement. In the Sycamore community, the legacy of Wally Thurow lives on each year through the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival and scholarship award night.