Blue Key had its beginnings at the University of Florida in 1924. Dr. A. A. Murphree, President of the University, called on Major B.C. Riley, a member of the staff to correlate and coordinate all the plans for the entertainment of guests who would be on campus for the joint Dad’s Day and Homecoming. Every campus organization was making plans to entertain the visitors and it looked as though confusion would result. Major Riley selected twenty-five outstanding student leaders who, by election or attainment, held places of prominence and confidence in the student body. These men were called together and each was assigned the duty to look after some particular phase of the Dad’s Day – Homecoming program. Because of the great success of this attempt, the twenty-five students requested Major Riley to meet with them regularly to discuss other ways of improving student life. Almost immediately a noticeable increase of interest on campus in all worthwhile student activities became evident. Since all of the college men were active on campus, the only possible time for meeting was at lunch.

Membership in the group, then known as Blue Key National Honor Fraternity, was coveted because the organization selected members with brains and ability to think straight, to act only after due deliberation, and to pursue a program of service to the betterment of the university. In 2003, the name was officially changed to Blue Key Honor Society. The progress and results obtained by the initial group of Blue Key was amazing, and before long there arose an exchange of ideas with similar groups on other campuses. No similar working organization could be found; therefore, Major Riley passed his idea along, wholly with the intention of cooperating with other schools. An honor society with a service slogan immediately appealed to students in other colleges and in 1925 began the phenomenal growth of Blue Key. Other schools adopted the name, the constitution, the pledge, and the insignia, all which were produced by Major Riley. Blue Key, now a close federation of a large number of chapters, found that in order to enforce uniform standards and procedure it was necessary to organize a more closely knit fraternity. To accomplish this, a convention was held in Chicago in December 1934. Since this convention, Blue Key has gained much strength and prestige.