Often introduced as the "Father of Direct Mail," Homer Buckley was the inspiration and guide for many in the medium of advertising. In 1905 he and his partner established Buckley-Dement and Company, the first firm to describe its business as direct mail advertising. In 1915 he organized the first direct mail department of the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World, out of which grew the Direct Mail Advertising Association founded by Buckley in 1917. In 1921 he founded the National Council of Business Mail Users.
Between 1916 and 1928 Buckley delivered over 1000 talks before various assemblies, almost all of them on direct mail advertising. He was an annual staff lecturer on direct mail for years at universities including University of Wisconsin, University of Illinois, Notre Dame and Northwestern University. He wrote five books on direct mail usages and procedures and numerous articles for the business and general press.
His contributions extended far beyond direct mail. He was incorporator of the Chicago Better Business Bureau, a founder of the Executive Club of Chicago, charter member of the Chicago Chapter of the National Council of Christians and Jews and a leader in many other civic and humanitarian causes.